John Laney PlylerJohn Laney Plyler

Wall of Fame MeritWall of Fame Merit

Longest serving President at Furman and Longest serving President at Furman and responsible for many changesresponsible for many changes

A notable figure in Greenville and served A notable figure in Greenville and served as a county judgeas a county judge

Coached a GHS team to the basketball Coached a GHS team to the basketball state championshipstate championship

Career AchievementsCareer Achievements Won a state championship Won a state championship

coaching basketball at GHScoaching basketball at GHS Served as the longest tenured Served as the longest tenured

president at Furman president at Furman University (25 years)University (25 years)

* new land purchased * new land purchased for for the modern campus the modern campus

* became * became coeducational coeducational and and desegregateddesegregated

* military training * military training programs to keep programs to keep

male male attendance up during attendance up during WWII WWII

EducationEducation

Attended Greenville Attended Greenville (Central) High and (Central) High and graduated in 1909 graduated in 1909 at the age of 15at the age of 15

Attended Furman Attended Furman and graduated in and graduated in 19131913

Received J.D. from Received J.D. from Harvard Law School Harvard Law School in 1921in 1921

Personal InformationPersonal Information

Born in Travelers Rest Born in Travelers Rest on January 12, 1894on January 12, 1894

Became President of Became President of Furman on January 1, Furman on January 1, 19391939

Married Beatrice Married Beatrice Elizabeth Dennis and Elizabeth Dennis and had three sonshad three sons

Fought in WWI as a Fought in WWI as a second lieutenantsecond lieutenant

Died April 5, 1966Died April 5, 1966

Interview with Interview with John Laney Plyler, Jr. John Laney Plyler, Jr.

What was his greatest accomplishment? What was his greatest accomplishment? All of the changes he bestowed upon FurmanAll of the changes he bestowed upon Furman

Who influenced your father the greatest?Who influenced your father the greatest? His mother, who was a notable student His mother, who was a notable student What were his goals as a student?What were his goals as a student?

To learn all that he could and help othersTo learn all that he could and help others Did your father ever talk about Greenville High School? Did your father ever talk about Greenville High School?

Finished Finished salutatorian and eventually returned to coach basketball and salutatorian and eventually returned to coach basketball and win a state championshipwin a state championship

What is your fondest memory of your father?What is your fondest memory of your father?Being available for help under any circumstances as well as Being available for help under any circumstances as well as his long standing honor and integrity leave a lasting impacthis long standing honor and integrity leave a lasting impact

Interview Sound ClipInterview Sound Clip Interview with John Laney Plyler, Jr. (son), Interview with John Laney Plyler, Jr. (son),

who currently resides in Davidson, NC.who currently resides in Davidson, NC.

Click on the icon of the speaker above to hear the interview.

SourcesSources

Plyler, Jr, John Laney. Telephone interview. May 19, 2008.Plyler, Jr, John Laney. Telephone interview. May 19, 2008.

Tollison, Courtney. Tollison, Courtney. Furman UniversityFurman University. Arcadia Publishing, 2004.. Arcadia Publishing, 2004.

Wall of Fame Plaque at Greenville HighWall of Fame Plaque at Greenville High

AuthorsAuthors

Steven- Powerpoint, editing interviewSteven- Powerpoint, editing interview Clark- Interview and QuestionsClark- Interview and Questions

Both were fundamental in researching the Both were fundamental in researching the topic.topic.