East Georgia State College is mourning the loss of former President John Bryant Black who passed away at the age of 84. Dr. John Black served as the fourth president of East Georgia College for seven years.
Under Dr. Black’s leadership, East Georgia College experienced monumental growth, including student enrollment, the addition of athletics, expanded facilities on the main campus in Swainsboro, a permanent facility in Statesboro, and its first on-campus apartment facility. Additionally, East Georgia College was approved by the Board of Regents to become a state college.
Prior to his position as president, Dr. Black served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at both East Georgia College and Dalton State College, and as Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs at the University System of Georgia before assuming the position as president of East Georgia College in August 2004.
Dr. Black earned his Ph.D. from the Medical College of Georgia in Endocrinology. He was a licensed Clinical Laboratory Director and consulted with in vitro fertilization laboratories both in this country and abroad.
Dr. Black was a charter member of the American Andrology Society, a founding partner of the Xytex Corporation and served on the Medical College of Georgia Research Institute Board for 12 years. He was a past President and Fellow of the Georgia Academy of Science and a recipient of the Louis K. Bell Alumni Research Award, the Town and Gown Award, the Outstanding Faculty Member Award, the Sally Simpkins Outstanding Professor Award from Augusta State University, and he served as a Georgia Presidential Ambassador for Phi Theta Kappa Honorary Society.
A private service will be held for Dr. Black at a later date. The family has asked that if anyone desires, remembrances of Dr. Black’s life can be made to:
East Georgia State College Foundation
Black Scholarship Fund
131 College Circle
Swainsboro, Ga 30401
For information about the Black Scholarship fund, please contact Harley Smith at [email protected].
