New President to Be Named at BYU

In conjunction with the announcement of a new college of law at Brigham Young University (see accompanying article), the First Presidency also announced Ernest L. Wilkinson’s resignation as president of BYU. He has been assigned by the First Presidency to assist in the establishment of the law school.

President Wilkinson has been BYU president since 1951—a period of twenty years. In that time, the student body has grown from 4,654 to 25,021, making it the largest private university in the United States.

President Wilkinson will continue to carry out his responsibilities until a successor is named. In talking about his retirement, he said, “I do not believe in complete retirement. I had several other things in mind, but between the time I had submitted my resignation and its acceptance, the decision was made to establish a law school at BYU, and I was asked to take some administrative responsibility for organizing it. This will certainly keep me occupied for awhile.”

Upon learning of his resignation, student response at BYU was commendatory and appreciative. Student body president Brian Walton of Hayes, England, said, “While it is understood that after twenty years it might be time for a change, nearly everyone respects and deeply appreciates the load that he has carried and the great job that he has done.” During President Wilkinson’s tenure, some eighty buildings have sprung up across the 600-acre campus.

“It’s going to be hard to imagine anyone else at the head of BYU,” said Jim Weipert, a freshman from Seattle. “Since President Wilkinson is leaving, I guess I’ll leave, too,” quipped Judy Willis, a senior from Telleson, Arizona, who plans to graduate in June.

“The incoming president will surely be a choice man,” said David Mitchell of London, England, editor of the Daily Universe, daily BYU student newspaper; “but one wonders if he, like President Wilkinson, will don the garb of a knight and ride into a student assembly on a white horse, or dress like Batman and shinny down a rope, or demonstrate his ability to perform more pushups than most students even care to think of. We’ll miss President Wilkinson—a truly great man.”

President Wilkinson considers the main accomplishments of his administration to be the increase in religious activity on campus through the establishment of ninety-eight wards and ten stakes of the Church, and the raising of academic standards. During his administration, the university increased from five to thirteen colleges. The grade point average for incoming freshmen is a B plus, much higher than the national average.

Looking back over his career, President Wilkinson summed it up: “I am pleased with the progress, but I realize there are many things yet to be done.”