Cross, James A.
James Adam Cross (1911-1990) became president of Lee College in 1966 and served for two years. The oldest of the presidential appointments, the Florida native was 54 years old.
President Cross was no stranger to Lee. He attended BTS from 1932 to 1934– finishing the 3 year course in two years and was valedictorian. He also served as chairman of Lee’s Board of Directors previously. He also had served as general overseer from 1958 to 1962.
His first year as president, Lee’s enrollment exceeded 1,000 students for first time. He also safely and effectively led Lee through a very tumultuous time in American culture when other colleges were experiencing chaos and protests. Lee also desegregated effectively, even if perhaps by surprise. Known as a gifted administrator and analytical thinker, President Cross led a reduction of the college debt by $125,000 and built two new dorms.
Among the most difficult things was to secure accreditation for the 4-year junior college program and even to retain Lee’s accreditation, which required merging the various separate units within the school to form a single system with three divisions: Arts and Sciences, Education, and Religion. This action met the requirements of the Board of Directors, the denomination’s earlier recommendations from its study, and those of the Southern Association.
In his final year as president, enrollment reached 1,126 students and in December 1969 Lee won accreditation by the Southern Association for the four-year college program.
Cross Hall was built in 1969 during his presidency and is named for him. He was married to Nellie Belle McClure Cross, originally of Georgia.
/ L.F. Morgan
President Cross was no stranger to Lee. He attended BTS from 1932 to 1934– finishing the 3 year course in two years and was valedictorian. He also served as chairman of Lee’s Board of Directors previously. He also had served as general overseer from 1958 to 1962.
His first year as president, Lee’s enrollment exceeded 1,000 students for first time. He also safely and effectively led Lee through a very tumultuous time in American culture when other colleges were experiencing chaos and protests. Lee also desegregated effectively, even if perhaps by surprise. Known as a gifted administrator and analytical thinker, President Cross led a reduction of the college debt by $125,000 and built two new dorms.
Among the most difficult things was to secure accreditation for the 4-year junior college program and even to retain Lee’s accreditation, which required merging the various separate units within the school to form a single system with three divisions: Arts and Sciences, Education, and Religion. This action met the requirements of the Board of Directors, the denomination’s earlier recommendations from its study, and those of the Southern Association.
In his final year as president, enrollment reached 1,126 students and in December 1969 Lee won accreditation by the Southern Association for the four-year college program.
Cross Hall was built in 1969 during his presidency and is named for him. He was married to Nellie Belle McClure Cross, originally of Georgia.
/ L.F. Morgan