Gaston’s Seventh President: Paul Berrier

Gaston College Interim President Paul Berrier When President Scott retired, Gaston College turned to a familiar face for interim leadership. Paul Berrier, a staff member since 1974, stepped into the role. He started at the college as Gaston’s director of campus development, later becoming vice president for human relations and vice president of administrative services.

Berrier served as interim president from November 1993 to July 1994. During this time, he made organizational changes to save money and focused on fundraising efforts. This included a $400,000 donation from Lincolnton’s Timken Company for renovating the old Lincolnton High School building as part of the Lincoln Center campus. He also led the fundraising campaign for the new Morris Library, following a $500,000 donation from Dr. Leslie Morris and Mrs. Mary Alice Morris in 1989.

Berrier was among the three finalists for the permanent position of president, but after not being selected he returned to his position as vice president until his retirement in 1997.

Gaston's Seventh President: Paul Berrier

Gaston’s Seventh President: Paul Berrier

When President Scott retired, Gaston College turned to a familiar face for interim leadership. Paul Berrier, a staff member since 1974, stepped into the role. He started at the college as Gaston’s director of campus development, later becoming vice president for human relations and vice president of administrative services. Berrier served as interim president from…

Gaston’s Sixth President: Wayne Scott

Wayne Scott’s journey from NASA physicist to Gaston College’s sixth president was somewhat of an unconventional path in higher education leadership. Scott, a Chattanooga native, earned degrees from the University of Chattanooga, William & Mary, and Ohio State before his tenure at NASA from 1962 to 1965. At Langley Field, he contributed to shield development…

Gaston’s Fifth President: Robert Howard

Dr. Robert Howard stepped into the role of Gaston College president in August 1979, following Dr. Joseph Mills’ resignation that May. Initially serving as “acting” president, Howard officially took the helm on August 27, 1979. A Charlotte native, Howard moved to Gastonia at age 5 in 1924. He pursued his education at Mars Hill Junior…

Remembering Marshall Rauch

Few people in state history have touched as many lives as Marshall Arthur Rauch before his death this week at 102. A native of Manhattan, N.Y., he moved to North Carolina in 1940 to play basketball at Duke University, where he met his wife when they were both 17 years old. He became a popular…