White served as interim president for about a year following the death of Dr. Stephen Kopp in December 2014.
“Gary White, true to his word and at a great personal sacrifice, did his duty to stand until relieved as interim president,” said Dr. Alan Gould, director of the Drinko Academy.
Gilbert thanked White and his wife, Jo Ann, for helping to put him at ease while Gilbert was making the transition from provost at Mississippi State University to president of Marshall, and while he was a candidate for the job.
“I’ve come to know Gary quite well in the past six months, interacting with him and Jo Ann,” Gilbert said. “And I’ve found them to be real people. Real, salt of the earth people. Gary is a true son of Marshall. He is the best of what this university represents. He was the right person at the right time in a difficult situation. He rose to the occasion, he stood up and he did it. It has been a great honor to work with him.”
Gilbert described White as “a renaissance man.”
“He knows a lot about everything,” Gilbert said. “He’s also a preacher’s kid and I think that defines a lot of his personality. He is a brilliant man, he has keen judgment and exceptional intellect.”
White, who was presented by Gilbert with a medallion and a plaque, recalled being “humbled” when the calls started to come asking him to consider being the interim president at Marshall.
“I appreciate the opportunity to have served Marshall University,” he said.
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Photo: Marshall President Jerome Gilbert, right, gets ready to place the Drinko Medallion around the neck of Gary White.