Abraham Baldwin’s name is known to most people in the area for its association with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Some people may not realize the significance of Baldwin reaches well beyond the borders of Tift County. He is in fact known as the father of higher education in Georgia. Baldwin was the founder of the University of Georgia, whose Alumni Association recently decided to honor him with a memorial.

The University of Georgia dedicated a statue of Baldwin, UGA’s first president, in a ceremony at 10 a.m. Sept. 16 near the northeast corner of Old College on the university’s North Campus.

According to the Alumni Association, the initial idea for the statue came from Loch Johnson, Regents Professor of International Affairs and Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor. He envisioned it adjacent to Old College because the building is a replica of the building where Baldwin studied at Yale.

“I was impressed by the Nathan Hale statue at Yale University when I was a visiting fellow there a few years ago,” said Johnson. “I thought that UGA, too, could benefit from a statue that would reflect our early history and, as the university’s first president, Abraham Baldwin struck me as an ideal subject.

“Baldwin, a member of the Georgia State House, the Continental Congress and the U.S. Senate, was a dedicated public servant. I think students, faculty and staff will be inspired by this statue as they walk through our beautiful North Campus. We may be from different backgrounds, and we study a range of disciplines, but we are all united in our devotion to public service. Who better than Abraham Baldwin to serve as a symbol of this devotion?”

Athens and Tifton are united by the bond of hosting UGA campuses and the many people who travel both south and north to attend ABAC and UGA. Baldwin is one more point of pride shared between the cities.

“ABAC is fortunate to be named for a legendary and successful man, who among his many accomplishments is regarded as the father of higher education in Georgia,” Dr. David Bridges, ABAC president, said. “Abraham Baldwin will hold a special place in the newly renovated Tift Hall.”

 According to ABAC history available on its website, Tift Hall was the first academic building built on ABAC’s campus, which began as the Second District A&M School on Feb. 20, 1908. Tift Hall was closed in 2007 due to deteriorating conditions. It is currently in the process of gaining new life through funds set aside for that purpose in the budget signed by Gov. Nathan Deal for FY 2012. The renovated Tift Hall will include a welcome center, a museum showcasing the history of ABAC, a conference room and offices for the president, the vice president for academic affairs, the vice president for planning and operations and public relations.

The charter Baldwin authored 225 years ago remains at the heart of higher education in Georgia, making the significance of his legacy felt across the state.

The memorial statue of Baldwin was created by Don Haugen and his wife, Teena Stern, who are two of the most notable figurative sculptors of their time. Their collaborations can be found in numerous public and private collections throughout the United States. Some of these include commissions for the Reagan Library, The Carter Presidential Center, the Woodruff Art Center, the Atlanta Botanical Garden and Clemson University, along with many others. Of particular interest is their previous work for the University of Georgia in creating a life-size sculpture honoring Bernard Ramsey, which is located next to Moore College on historic North Campus.

“The University of Georgia Alumni Association takes great pride in having played a role in honoring our alma mater’s founder,” said Vic Sullivan, who was alumni president at the time the project was initiated. “The vision that Abraham Baldwin had — to make a quality post-secondary education affordable to the citizens of our state — has impacted the growth and prosperity of our region in ways few could have imagined two centuries ago.

“As graduates of the University of Georgia and beneficiaries of Baldwin’s efforts, we are honored to help recognize our founder’s vision and to reaffirm his belief that the opportunity for higher education for all Georgians is the pathway to our state’s bright future.”

Funding for the statue came from private donations as well as a $90,000 matching grant through the UGA Alumni Association.

“It is fitting that a statue in honor of our founder be a gift from the many alumni who have benefited from his vision of 226 years ago,” said Deborah Dietzler, executive director of alumni relations. “It is heartening that so many graduates contributed to this initiative.”

Travelers can visit the statue of Baldwin by walking through the gateway at the arches on Broad Street and following the pathways through North Campus, or learn more about it online at: http://www.externalaffairs.uga.edu/development/baldwin_statue_initiative/index.html.