[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17601]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN MEMORY OF DR. HERMAN D. JAMES, BELOVED PRESIDENT OF ROWAN UNIVERSITY

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 15, 2010

  Mr. ANDREWS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory 
of Dr. Herman D. James of Voorhees, New Jersey, who died of heart 
failure in his home on October 2, 2010 at the age of 67. He is survived 
by his wife Marie, three children and two grandchildren. Dr. James' 
life and work left a lasting impression on the Rowan University 
community.
  Originally from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dr. James 
relocated to Harlem, New York with his family at the age of ten. As a 
young man, he developed a love of jazz music, which he later shared 
with the listeners of Rowan University's radio station, WGLS-FM. Dr. 
James went on to graduate from Tuskegee University in 1964 with a 
bachelor's degree and later earned his doctorate in sociology from the 
University of Pittsburgh.
  Becoming the fifth president of the former Glassboro State College 
(now Rowan University) in 1984, Dr. James began his legacy of striving 
for academic improvement. Under his leadership, Rowan University saw 
the launch of its college of engineering as well as the first doctoral 
program available at a New Jersey state college. Dr. James was also the 
pioneer of fund-raising for state colleges, resulting in the $100 
million donation by Henry and Betty Rowan, the largest gift to a public 
college at that time. Through the generosity of the Rowan family, Dr. 
James was able to construct a building for the college of engineering 
while transforming Rowan University into a more residential campus. Dr. 
James' love of the classroom persisted even after his retirement from 
the position of president in 1998, teaching sociology and educational 
leadership classes up until last year.
  Madam Speaker, Dr. Herman D. James' commitment to Rowan University 
and its students should not go unrecognized. I express my deepest 
condolences to his family for their loss and pay tribute to the memory 
of this outstanding individual.

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