Educator LeNoir remembered as leader at CSU

Former Columbus State University President Frank Brown said William C. LeNoir earned so much respect during his career at the university that a building was named after him on the school campus at a time when naming one after a living person was against the rules in the state.

“It was forbidden at the time, but the Georgia Board of Regents gave its approval,” Brown said of the naming of a new science building after LeNoir’s retirement in 1995.

LeNoir died Aug. 1 at 86 years old. A service was held Aug. 6 in Loudon, Tenn., where he was born and raised.

Jane LeNoir, his wife of 60 years, said he died on the family farm in Monroe County, Tenn., where he has lived for more than 20 years.

“He was still active until just recently,” she said.

Brown described LeNoir as low key and very bright.

“He left an indelible mark on the university,” he said of the dean emeritus of the School of Science.

Brown said on two occasions that LeNoir served as acting president of the school.

George Stanton, former biology professor and vice president of academic affairs at CSU, said LeNoir was a servant leader before anyone had heard the term. He said that in the building of the university, he would rank LeNoir right behind past presidents Thomas Whitley and Brown.

“He was just not as conspicuous,” Stanton said. “He did a lot of work behind the scenes.”

LeNoir was a natural leader who did not seek leadership roles.

“I think we always drafted him,” Stanton said.

He said LeNoir was a calm and patient man, slow to anger “unless someone was being mistreated.”

“He cared deeply about the students first and faculty second,” Stanton said.

LeNoir graduated from Maryville College and later received a doctorate from the University of Georgia. He then began a 34-year teaching career as a professor of botany at what was then Columbus College.

After retiring, he went to Tennessee where he was active as a farmer and an advocate for local environmental and historical initiatives.

“Being an educator was his life,” his wife said. “He loved the contact with the kids.”

She said he had loved botany from the time he was a small child, always bringing flowers and plants into the house to study.

He also enjoyed farming, something of which his wife said he did not get to do enough.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his three children, Kathy LeNoir, David LeNoir and Mollie May, and a granddaughter, Mia LeNoir.

This story was originally published August 9, 2016 at 6:05 PM with the headline "Educator LeNoir remembered as leader at CSU."