[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 174 (Tuesday, November 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2458-E2459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         PROFILE IN LEADERSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACK KINGSTON

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 25, 2003

  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to stand here today and pay 
tribute to one of Georgia's truly outstanding citizens. I would like to 
recognize William Megathlin's contribution to society by presenting 
this article to the rest of Congress.

                    [From ``Compass'', Summer 2003]

              Profile in Leadership--William L. Megathlin

       Bill Megathlin briefly stretches his lanky frame behind his 
     office desk, pulling his trademark suspenders taut for a 
     moment, then leans forward, making his visitor feel at home. 
     The assistant to the president for strategic initiatives is 
     uncomfortable talking about his leadership skills but not 
     averse to giving a bit of background information.
       A native of Miami, Megathlin earned his bachelor's degree 
     in psychology from Presbyterian College in Clinton, South 
     Carolina. He went on for a master's degree and a doctorate in 
     counseling at the University of Georgia.
       His doctoral dissertation focused on training correctional 
     officers at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary in basic 
     communication skills to better influence inmate behavior. The 
     study, funded by a grant from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, 
     demonstrated such a positive effect on officers and inmates 
     alike that the training method was adopted by other federal 
     and state institutions.
       Megathlin launched his academic career at Mississippi State 
     University as an assistant professor of counselor education. 
     During his tenure at MSU, he also worked as a consultant with 
     state and federal criminal Justice agencies.
       Though he enjoyed preparing college students to become 
     effective counselors, his heart was in corrections and law 
     enforcement. So when he was offered a position in the highly 
     regarded Department of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State 
     University, he and his wife Carol were off to Huntsville, 
     Texas.
       In 1971, Megathlin's brother John, suffered a serious head 
     injury in an automobile accident outside Metter. So severe 
     were his injuries that he was rushed to Memorial Hospital in 
     Savannah. Bill and Carol drove through the night to Savannah 
     after hearing of the

[[Page E2459]]

     accident. They spent a few days visiting John in the 
     hospital. John eventually made a complete recovery and the 
     Megathlins spent some time exploring Savannah. They were 
     intrigued.
       While in the city, Megathlin visited Armstrong State 
     College. He discovered that a new criminal justice program 
     was in the process of being established under the leadership 
     of Jim Witt. A few letters, phone calls, and an interview 
     later, Megathlin was hired as one of two new professors in 
     the fledgling program. Several years later, when Witt took 
     a sabbatical, Megathlin was tapped to serve as interim 
     chairman of the department.
       ``In those days,'' Megathlin recalls, ``there were large 
     numbers of students pursuing criminal justice degrees, and 
     local and state agencies were hungering for involvement with 
     the university and for the opportunity to work with students 
     and faculty. They were anxious to reach out to academics to 
     help them address some of their challenges. That was very 
     attractive.
       ``It was a great time for me professionally. Career-wise, I 
     got more involved with administrative responsibilities.''
       When former president Robert A. Burnett arrived, he 
     combined the departments of criminal justice and political 
     science into the Department of Government under Megathlin.
       ``Bob Burnett was good for the university and for me,'' 
     Megathlin said. ``He was one of those people involved in the 
     business of administration who makes it a team effort. Over 
     the years, I've been fortunate to work with people who make 
     me look good.''
       When former vice-president Frank A. Butler created a 
     division of academic and enrollment services, he named 
     Megathlin as dean to spearhead the reorganization.
       Contacted at his Atlanta office, Butler, now vice 
     chancellor of the University System of Georgia's Office of 
     Academics, Faculty, and Student Affairs said, ``We were able 
     to create a good climate for student enrollment thanks to 
     Bill. He was a major part of the idea creating cadre.''
       Butler gives Megathlin much of the credit for increasing 
     the college's enrollment past the 3,000 mark in the late 
     `80's. ``He doesn't make things take forever,'' Butler said. 
     ``He cuts to the chase and gets results.''
       Over time, new functions were added to the academic and 
     enrollment division that didn't always form a neat fit, but 
     Megathlin found ways to make them work. In the process, he 
     was in position to influence many aspects of the growing 
     university.
       With the arrival of President Thomas Z. Jones, Megathlin 
     again found himself in the middle of reorganization. To help 
     move his vision for the university forward, Jones asked 
     Megathlin to become his assistant for strategic initiatives.
       In his new role, Megathlin can often be found in Atlanta, 
     making AASU's case to legislators and regents for buildings 
     such as University Hall, the Science Center, the future 
     academic building, and the planned renovation of the Lane 
     Library.
       Forrest Lott, principle in Lott + Barber Architects, has 
     worked with Megathlin on the construction of University Hall 
     and the Science Center, as well as on the refurbishing 
     of Solms and Hawes halls. ``One of the things about 
     Bill,'' Lott said, ``is that he recognizes the skills and 
     abilities of each of the team members and relies on them 
     to do their part. He doesn't try to be the architect . . . 
     That gets everyone pulling in the right direction.'' Lott 
     was impressed by Megathlin's professionalism. ``Whenever 
     there was an issue related to any of the projects we 
     worked with him on, he made it go away instantly,'' the 
     architect said.
       Megathlin also serves as the link to Georgia's leadership 
     structure. ``It is important that the state's leaders know 
     what Armstrong Atlantic is all about,'' he explained. ``To 
     his credit, the president has made that a high priority for 
     the university.''
       State Senator Eric Johnson has known Megathlin for fifteen 
     years and has worked with him in the legislature on 
     educational issues affecting AASU and the First District. 
     Mention the educator and words like ``gentleman'' and 
     ``integrity'' immediately slip into the legislator's 
     conversation. Johnson summed up his observations by saying, 
     ``When Bills asks for something, you know it's important and 
     you know it's been prioritized. He always knows what is 
     reasonable and possible.''
       Megathlin doesn't talk much about his personal leadership 
     style, but he did volunteer this: ``You have to make things 
     happen and not just wait for them to happen. That's probably 
     the key to leadership.''

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