Dedication of the Fairfax Campus

The Fairfax campus was formally dedicated on November 12, 1964. The hour-long ceremony, presided over by Virginia Senator Charles Fenwick, took place directly in front of North Building. The United States Marine Band, under the direction of Master Sergeant Jack Kline, performed the music for the Academic Procession, National Anthem, and Recessional. Among the nearly one thousand attendees were the daughters of Wilson N. Farr; U.S. District Court Judge, Albert V. Bryan, Sr.; Interior Secretary, Stuart Udall; members of the UVa faculty; and presidents from area universities and colleges.

Speakers included Albertis S. Harrison, Jr., Governor of Virginia; local newspaper publisher, Arthur W. Arundel; Senator Fenwick, who presented a Resolution of Appreciation from the UVa Board of Visitors to the Farr Family; President of UVa, Edgar F. Shannon; and UVa Chancellor Joseph Vaughn, who installed Robert H. Reid as the college’s first Director.

Governor Harrison’s speech stressed the State of Virginia’s intent to make its higher education institutions more responsive to change, particularly in the burgeoning area of technology. He challenged the George Mason faculty and students to “lead…and direct” change while “put[ting] all the technology of education to work.”