Athens State Vice President for University Advancement Dr. Keith Ferguson and John Hector French, Jr.’s daughter Donna French
ATHENS – The family of John Hector French, Jr. has named the foyer of the recently renovated McCandless Hall in his honor. French studied at the then Athens College and was a long-time supporter of the institution.
French was a local businessman and entrepreneur who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.
French’s daughter, Donna French, said, “My father spent many hours in McCandless Hall and I know that he would be very pleased by having the foyer named in his honor.”
A plaque was recently placed in the building’s foyer that reads: “Since 1822, intellectual curiosity, investigation, imagination, creativity, advancement of knowledge, understanding, and character development have been fostered and nurtured here. This portal is dedicated to those ideals; in memory of John Hector French, Jr. who embodied them.”
McCandless Hall underwent a renovation that was completed in 2014. Both structural and accessibility improvements were made during the two-year process.
media release/Athens State University/Guy McClure
