John Laney Plyler

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John Laney Plyler
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Wall of Fame Merit

• Longest serving President at Furman and
  responsible for many changes
• A notable figure in Greenville and served as a
  county judge
• Coached a GHS team to the basketball state
  championship

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Career Achievements

• Won a state championship coaching basketball at
  GHS
• Served as the longest tenured president at Furman
  University (25 years)
• new land purchased for the modern campus
• became coeducational and
  desegregated
• military training programs to keep
  male attendance up during WWII

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Education

• Attended Greenville (Central) High and graduated
  in 1909 at the age of 15
• Attended Furman and graduated in 1913
• Received J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1921

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Personal Information

• Born in Travelers Rest on January 12, 1894
• Became President of Furman on January 1, 1939
• Married Beatrice Elizabeth Dennis and had three
  sons
• Fought in WWI as a second lieutenant
• Died April 5, 1966

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Interview with
John Laney Plyler, Jr.

• What was his greatest accomplishment?
  All of the changes he bestowed
  upon Furman
• Who influenced your father the greatest?
• His mother, who was a notable student
• What were his goals as a student?
• To learn all that he could and help others
• Did your father ever talk about Greenville High
  School?
  
  Finished salutatorian and eventually returned to
  coach basketball and win a state championship
• What is your fondest memory of your father?
• Being available for help under any circumstances
  as well as his long standing honor and integrity
  leave a lasting impact

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Interview Sound Clip

• Interview with John Laney Plyler, Jr. (son), who
  currently resides in Davidson, NC.

Click on the icon of the speaker above to hear
the interview.
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Sources

• Plyler, Jr, John Laney. Telephone interview. May
  19, 2008.
• Tollison, Courtney. Furman University. Arcadia
  Publishing, 2004.
• Wall of Fame Plaque at Greenville High

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Authors

• Steven- Powerpoint, editing interview
• Clark- Interview and Questions
• Both were fundamental in researching the topic.