Background
Gaither, William Samuel was born on December 3, 1932 in Lafayette, Indiana, United States. Son of William Marcius and Susan Frances (Kirkpatrick) Gaither.
consultant civil engineering executive
Gaither, William Samuel was born on December 3, 1932 in Lafayette, Indiana, United States. Son of William Marcius and Susan Frances (Kirkpatrick) Gaither.
Student, Purdue University, 1950—1951. Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Rose Polytechnic Institute, 1956. M. Science Engineering (Arthur Le Grand Doty fellow), Princeton, 1962.
Master of Arts (Ford Foundation fellow), Princeton, 1963. Doctor of Philosophy (Ford Foundation fellow), Princeton, 1964.
Before continuing with his graduate education he worked for the Meyer Corporation, the Dravo Corporation, and the Bechtel Corporation as an engineer Gaither taught at Princeton University and the University of Florida. In 1967 he started an ocean engineering program at the University of Delaware.
In 1970 he was offered the position of Dean and Professor of the College of Marine Studies at Delaware where he was also the Sea Grant Program Director.This Program is an organization which honors colleges that have developed a curriculum for studying the oceans and human impact on them.
During his career he frequently testified to Congress on environmental and oceanographic issues. In May 1984 he left the University of Delaware for the position of President of Drexel University.
He was officially he was installed into the position on April 27, 1985. While at Drexel he created eleven new majors and increased alumni giving.
He also worked on programs to enhance minority student enrollment at Drexel.
On April 22, 1987, a Drexel employee filed a sexual harassment complaint against Gaither stating that he had sexual harassed her at a business dinner. Following the incident, faculty vote resulted in a motion of "no confidence" in Gaither. Upon review of the situation and an investigation into other sexual harassment allegations, the Drexel board of trustees overturned the vote of no confidence and did not ask Gaither for his resignation.
In October of that year, following continual turmoil on campus due to the incident, Gaither resigned stating that "While I am fully prepared and wish to continue as president of this fine institution, it is my considered judgment that to do so will not serve the best interests of the university.".
Chairman advisory county department сivil engineering Princeton University, 1973-1984. Board directors University City Science Center, 1984-1993, Penjurdel Council, since 1984, Ednl. Foundation of Chester County, 1989-1992.
President, director Society John Gaither Descendant, Inc., 1984-1987. Port warden Philadelphia Maritime Museum, 1987-1993. Founding director, secretary International Consciousness Research laboratories, since 1996.
Vestryman Church St. Andrew and St. Monica, 1987-1993, chairman finance committee 1991-1996. Board directors, member Executive Committee Philadelphia H.S. Acads., Inc., 1988-1993. Chairman of the Board govs.Environ.
Technology Academy, 1988-1993, active, 1988-1994. Principal sponsor Delaware Valley Science Fairs, 1990-1993. Fellow American Society of Civil Engineers (chairman offshore policy committee 1979-1984).
Member Delaware Academy Science (president 1971-1972), Society Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, Marine Technology Society, American Geophysical Union, Association Sea Grant Program Institutions (president 1973-1974), Academy Science Philadelphia (board directors 1989-1992), National Water Research Institute (research advisory board since 1991), Cosmos Club (Washington), Wilmington Club (Delaware), Germantown Cricket Club, Sunday Breakfast Club (Philadelphia).
Married Robin Cornwall McGraw, August 1, 1959. 1 daughter, Sarah Curwen.