Submitted
Former North Greenville University President George Silver has died. He was 94.
Silver was a scholar and an educator whose professional life spanned various leadership roles and responsibilities. Early in his career, he served as a faculty member of several high schools, colleges, and universities. He served as president at North Greenville, Chesapeake College, and Ocean County College.
During his five years at North Greenville, Silver upgraded the academic programs and made many improvements and changes. He renovated Hayes Gymnasium, began constructing the Unit residence halls, and launched the Academic Commitment Training (ACT) program, which offered students one or two semesters to sharpen their skills before entering regular college courses.
According to his published obituary, during his adult life, he and his beloved wife, Dr. Jane H. Silver, approached each new challenge as a team. He would enter each new position as a "copilot" and tackle and embrace the role of chief administrator/president. She would work beside him to fulfill his role and serve as director of the student-counseling center.
The Silvers’ crowning achievement came when he was named president of Maryland’s Chesapeake College, which was comprised of an empty cornfield at a location where the four surrounding counties converged.
In partnership with his wife, Silver created every aspect of the college, from interviewing and hiring each faculty and staff member to overseeing the development of architectural plans, designs, and construction for each building.
Silver was a military veteran, with active roles spanning more than 50 years. His career included service in the U.S. Army Air Corps, the National Guard, and the U.S. Army Reserve, where he retired as a colonel. He was an air corps crew officer and battery commander in the Army Air Corps and a state property officer in the National Guard. He was transferred to the Quartermaster Corps while living in Maryland and oversaw all logistics at Fort Indian Town Gap. He graduated from the Army War College, where he was a commandant of the Reserve Command and General Staff College in Maryland. He also served as Assistant Commandant of the U.S. Army Quartermaster School at Fort Lee, Va.
He is predeceased by his wife, Dr. Jane Hartman Silver of Goldsboro, N.C.; and he is survived by his son, Dr. George R. Sliver of Goldsboro, N.C.; his daughter, Melissa A. Silver of Richmond, Va.; and his three grandchildren, Dr. George R. Silver, Jr., and family of Goldsboro; Keith L. Silver of Goldsboro; and Cara M. Camaioni and family of Goldsboro, N.C.
There was a private graveside service for the family on Jan. 30.
If you wish to contribute to NGU in Silver’s memory, you may do so online or mail to NGU, Office of Advancement, PO Box 1892, Tigerville, SC, 29688-1892. Online condolences may be sent to www.seymourfuneralhome.com. A wreath is placed in his memory at the Donnan Administration Building entrance.