Leigh Gerdine

Leigh Gerdine was the former president of Webster University from 1970 to 1990.

Leigh Gerdine
Born(1917-06-22)June 22, 1917
Sheyenne, North Dakota
DiedMarch 1, 2002(2002-03-01) (aged 84)
OccupationEducator
Known forPresident of Webster University

Gerdine was born on June 22, 1917 in Sheyenne, North Dakota. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Dakota in 1938.[1] Gerdine was a Rhodes Scholar attending Lincoln College, Oxford from 1938.[2]

Gerdine oversaw a large increase in the student population at Webster in his tenure. Attendance at the university increased from 1,300 in 1970 to 10,000 in 1990, the year of his retirement.[1]

In 1976, Gerdine co-founded the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. [3] Its young opera artist program Gerdine Young Artists was named in his honor. [4] The Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts at Webster University was also named in his honor.[5]

In 1989 he was awarded the National Medal of Arts in recognition of being an arts patron and civic leader. [6]

On March 1, 2002, Gerdine died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 84. [1]

References
  1. Belz, Fran. "Remembering Leigh Gerdine". Webster-Kirkwood Times, Inc. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  2. "Leigh Gerdine". Rhodes Scholar Database. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  3. Kozinn, Allan (2000-09-06). "Stepping Aside at an Operatic Oasis; Founding Director of the Santa Fe Opera Looks Back on 43 Years of Innovation". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  4. "Opera Theatre of Saint Louis". opera-stl.org. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  5. "Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts".
  6. "Leigh Gerdine". NEA. 2013-04-24. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
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