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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Craig Murden, 704 337-2485
murdenc@queens.edu
President Emeritus dies after courageous battle with cancer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (July 16, 2005) — Dr. Billy O. Wireman, President of Queens University of Charlotte from 1978 to 2002, died Saturday after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 72.
"There are few college presidents in the history of higher education who have done more for their institution than Billy Wireman did for Queens. He was a pioneer, a visionary and a friend to everyone on campus, and absolutely lived our mission to develop students for noble lives, productive careers and global citizenship. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Katie and the Wireman family during this difficult time, and I hope their spirits will be lifted by the outpouring of love and appreciation from several generations of students, faculty and colleagues," said Queens' President Dr. Pamela Lewis.
Wireman arrived at Queens in 1978 during a critical juncture in the university's history. He brought a spirit of revitalization, excitement and growth, and established a personable and approachable style that endeared him to the Queens community. He was always available to students and faculty and was best known for his trademark visits to the dining hall where he would sit down with a group of students and say, "Hi, I'm Billy Wireman. What are you studying in your Core classes this semester?"
A 1954 graduate of Georgetown College (Ky.) with an M.A. in educational administration from the University of Kentucky and a Ph.D. from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, Wireman has always been one of the leading advocates for education. His educational philosophy asks what colleagues call the right questions: What should be taught? To whom? To what end?
During his twenty-four years at Queens, total enrollment increased 300 percent and the endowment grew to $33 million. Under his leadership, students were welcomed to the Pauline Lewis Hayworth College and the McColl Graduate School of Business, and the college transitioned to university status. Wireman's administration also saw the shift to fully co-educational status, the creation of the John Belk International Program, the development of the Core Program in the Liberal Arts, the establishment of an NCAA Division II athletics program, the creation of the Presidential Scholars program and the founding of the Learning Society at Queens.
In the Charlotte community, he chaired the effort to create the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System's Center for Leadership and Global Economics. By connecting local public schools via the Internet with schools in Moscow, Berlin, Hong Kong, Beijing, Johannesburg and Mexico City, this program emphasizes an understanding of global studies and economics, preparing students to be future leaders. Wireman also chaired the Charlotte World Affairs Council and served as an educational consultant in India, Africa, South America, Indonesia, China and the former Soviet Union, often visiting with educators and government officials to aid in their pursuit of higher education.
His work inspired these remarks by community leaders John and Claudia Belk: "Billy has been a godsend to the Charlotte community and to us. He led the transformation of Queens College into one of the nation's premier private universities and helped expand the horizons of our city through his work in building international relationships. We salute our good friend for all that he has done to make Charlotte and the world a better place."
Wireman published more than 250 articles focusing on education, politics, religion and international topics. His 2002 book, "Like Shooting Rapids in the Dark," collects four decades of his educational writings, and he regularly contributed opinion pieces and reviews to the Charlotte Observer. He served on the board of directors for the William C. Friday Fellowship sponsored by the Wildacres Leadership Initiative, and he was an elder at First Presbyterian Church in Charlotte. Wireman received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during Queens' 146th commencement ceremony on May 7, 2005. Fittingly this, his last public appearance on campus, was greeted with a standing ovation.
Billy Wireman is survived by his wife Katie, their daughter Emily Smith and son-in-law Stuart Smith, their son Gary Wireman, and his aunt, Hettie Rhea Thomas. The family will receive friends on Monday, July 18, 2005, from 5-8 p.m. at Harry and Bryant Co., 500 Providence Road, Charlotte. Funeral services will be held at First Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m., Tuesday, July 19, and at the Belk Chapel on Queens' campus at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Wireman family requests that memorial gifts be directed to the Wireman Presidential Scholarship Fund at Queens (1900 Selwyn Avenue, Charlotte, 28274), the Wireman Fund for Ministry at Union-PSCE at Charlotte (1900 Selwyn Avenue, Charlotte, 28274), and Hospice at Charlotte & New South Healthcare (1420 East 7th Street, Charlotte, 28204).
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