Georgia Southern Honorary Degrees

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Hala Moddelmog

Georgia Southern University
Spring 2018
Hala Moddelmog is a business and civic leader who attended Georgia Southern University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English and also holds a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the first female president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) and gave the commencement address for the graduation ceremony.

Hala Moddelmog was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Georgia Southern University in Spring 2018.
Luis A. Aguilar

Georgia Southern University
Spring 2013
Luis A. Aguilar (1953) emigrated from Cuba to the United States where he graduated from Georgia Southern University and went on to study law at the University of Georgia. He was the Commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and served in the U.S. Senate as well as for numerous civic and business organizations.

Luis A. Aguilar was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service by Georgia Southern University in 2013.
Alva B. Lines

Armstrong Atlantic State University
Fall 2010
Alva B. Lines (1915-2013) was a Savannah native and a member of Armstrong Junior College's inaugural graduating class in 1937. He went on to finish his education at Emory University before joining the Air Force during World War II. After the war, Lines returned to Atlanta and became a pioneering documentary filmmaker. He was also involved in many civic and conservation organizations.

Alva B. Lines was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters Armstrong Atlantic State University in the Fall of 2010.
Frank Barragan

Armstrong Atlantic State University
Spring 2010
Frank Barragan (1918-2018) was a Savannah native and influential in the gas industry in both Georgia and North Carolina. He graduated from Armstrong Junior College in 1938 before joining the Air Force during World War II. After the war, he attended law school and joined the Savannah Gas Company and later the North Carolina Natural Gas Company. Barragan was involved in many civic organizations and served as President of the Alumni Board of Directors and as a Member of the Board of Trustees.

Frank Barragan was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters in Spring 2010 by Armstrong Atlantic State University.
Dr. Irving Victor

Armstrong State University
2001
Dr. Victor Irving (1922-2020) was a successful urologist and restaurateur. A native of Savannah, he graduated Valedictorian from Armstrong Junior College and his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. Before returning to his hometown to begin his urology practice, he served in the Navy and completed his residency in Minnesota. He volunteered as a doctor during the Vietnam War and was a member of many business and civic organizations. After he retired, he open a very successful restaurant, Vic's on the River.

Dr. Victor Irving was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Armstrong Atlantic State University in 2001.
Eugene M. Bishop

Georgia Southern University
Spring 2000
Dr. Eugene M. Bishop (1935-2011) was the retired owner and president of Health Service Centers, Inc. He served on the Georgia Southern University Board of Trustees from 2004-2011. He was a member of Georgia Southern University's Business Advisory Council for the School of Business 17 years. He was a board member and executive committee member of the Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation. He was inducted into the Georgia Southern Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006. He was responsible for the funding of the Bishop Fieldhouse at Paulson Stadium.
Emma T. Kelly

Georgia Southern University
Spring 1999
Emma T. Kelly (1918-2001) was a native of Statesboro, Georgia and was made internationally famous as the "Lady of 6,000 Songs" in the book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." The George R. and Emma T. Kelly Scholarship is named in her honor.

Emma T. Kelly was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts by Georgia Southern University in 1999.
William Freeman

Georgia Southern University
Spring 1999
William "Bill" Freeman (1930-2000) was a native of Evans County, Georgia. He graduated from Georgia Southern University in 1957 and went on to achieve success in banking and media as well as serving on the boards or as Trustee to multiple organizations. He provided financial support to the university, especially athletics and was inducted into the Georgia Southern Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002. There is also the William A. Freeman Distinguished Chair of Free Enterprise Scholarship named in his honor.

William "Bill" Freeman was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by Georgia Southern University in 1999.
Jackie Anderson Strange

Georgia Southern University
Spring 1998
Dr. Jackie Anderson Strange began working for the U.S. Postal Service during her time as a student at Georgia Southern University. She went on to be named the first female Deputy Postmaster General. Strange served on the Board of Governors and managed the world’s largest non-military workforce of 800,000 employees and a $32 billion budget. She received the Benjamin Franklin Award, the highest honor given to postal executives, and the Postmaster’s General Award for Excellence upon her retirement in 1987, after forty years of service. In 2011, she was presented with the Woodrow B. Seals Laity Award and she was selected as Georgia Southern’s first recipient of an honorary doctorate degree. There is also a scholarship for students with disabilities named in her honor.

Dr. Jackie Anderson Strange was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by Georgia Southern University in 1998.
The Honorable Arthur Gignilliat, Jr.

Georgia Southern University
Fall 1998
Arthur M. Gignilliat, Jr. was born in Savannah, Georgia in 1933. After attending the University of Georgia, he served Savannah Electric for over 40 years. He was also elected to the Georgia House of Representatives and was the Chair of the Georgia Board of Regents as well as many other civic positions.

Gigniliat was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters By Georgia Southern University in 1998.
Allen E. Paulson

Georgia Southern University
Spring 1997
Allen E. Paulson (1922-2000) was a supporter of Georgia Southern University. The Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing and Allen E. Paulson Stadium are named in his honor. His company, Gulfstream, created the "Gulfstream Scholarships."

The Iowa native, on is own since age 13, joined the US Army during World War II and studied engineering at the University of West Virginia. After the War, he worked for TWA as a flight engineer and earned his pilot's license. Paulson went on to be very successful dealing in second-hand planes and later founded Gulfstream Aerospace.

Allen E. Paulson received the Honorary Doctor of Science degree on June 14, 1997.
The Honorable F. Everett Williams

Georgia Southern University
Fall 1997
A Bulloch County native, the late F. Everett Williams (1909-2000) held many positions during his life. Williams graduated from Statesboro High School in 1926 and went on to attend Emory University. The businessman owned and operated College Pharmacy in Statesboro for over thirty years while simultaneously serving on the city and county Board of Education, serving in the Georgia senate, the House of Representatives, the State Board of Regents, the Georgia Southern Foundation, the Board of Deacons at the Statesboro Primitive Baptist Church, and serving as the president of the National Primitive Baptist Foundation. Williams also was elected president of Sea Island Bank and served on their board of directors, was a founding director of William’s Industries, Inc., a partner of William Enterprises of Ga., and was awarded an honorary Doctorate in human letters from Georgia Southern University in 1997. Williams was also elected Bulloch County Man of the Year. The F. Everett Williams Scholarship is awarded to College of Engineering and Computing in financial need.
Betty Foy Sanders

Georgia Southern University
Summer 1996
Betty Foy Sanders (1927-2022) was born in Statesboro, Georgia. She established the Betty Foy Sanders Georgia Artists Collection which is on permanent display at the Center for Art & Theatre on Georgia Southern’s Statesboro Campus. She is a an avid artist with a life-long love of learning. The Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art on the Statesboro campus of Georgia Southern University is named in her honor.

Born in 1927 in the farming community of Adabelle, Georgia with a population of less than 100, she went on to served as the First Lady of Georgia from 1963 to 1967.

Betty Foy Sanders received an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree on August 11, 1996.

Visit https://cah.georgiasouthern.edu/art/about/betty-foy-sanders/ for more about Betty Foy Sanders.
The Honorable Carl Sanders

Georgia Southern University
Fall 1996
The Honorable Carl Sanders (1925-2014) was the 74th governor of Georgia, serving from January 15, 1963-January 11, 1967. The native of Augusta, Georgia attended the University of Georgia until 1943 when he joined the US Army Airforce during World War II. After the war, he returned to finish his studies before practicing law in his hometown. He served in the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia State Senate, where he played an important role in the desegregation of Atlanta schools. Sanders was also inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame in 1997 for his work in the construction and expansion of Georgia airports.

Sanders received the Honorary Doctor of Law degree from Georgia Southern University on August 11, 1996.