Samuel Henry Cook: Acting President 1951-1953
When James Armour Lindsay notified the trustees that he planned to pursue further study in developing programs for rural leaders in 1951, the board appointed Samuel Henry Cook as acting president.
Dr. Cook, who came to Berry in 1910 from Davidson College, served the institution in a number of roles from 1921-51, including athletic director, acting principal and dean of the Berry schools and college. During his years as acting president, he continued to serve in the capacity of dean. A native of Brunswick Ga., Dr. Cook attended Davidson College in North Carolina, where he received his A.B., A.M. and Ph.D. As acting president, he guided the schools through the Korean Conflict, declining enrollment and the beginnings of Berry’s quest for accreditation. He resigned at the end of the 1952-53 academic year and returned, full time, to his role as dean.
After retiring from Berry in 1957, Dr. Cook continued to live on the Berry campus, serving as an advisor to the president. Referred to as the “Mr. Chips” of Berry by John A. Sibley, then chairman of the Board of Trustees, Samuel Henry Cook was a Berry institution. He passed away in August 1975.