F.C. Richardson became the sixth president of Buffalo State College and the college's first African-American president on July 1, 1989. Before coming to the college, Dr. Richardson served as the vice-president for academic affairs at Moorhead State University. He previously held the same position at Jackson State University.

In 1960, Dr. Richardson received a degree in biology from Rust College, where he attended on athletic and singing scholarships, earned a master of science degree in Biology from Atlanta University and a doctor of philosophy in biology from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

His teaching career began in 1967 with his appointment as assistant professor of botany at Indiana University Northwest, where he rose to the rank of professor and served as dean of the Division of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Richardson resigned as President of the college on January 1, 1996. He recieved a position as senior fellow at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C. On July 1, 1996, he assumed the post of chancellor at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, Indiana.

During the Richardson years, the posts of provost and vice-president for institutional advancement were created. The Sports Arena opened in 1991 and in 1993 the Sports Arena became the setting for three commencement ceremonies marking the first time graduation had been held on campus in 23 years. Campus beautification has been a concern of each president. In 1995 the college proposed a master plan for the 21st century. Reconstruction of the Grant Street entrance, creation of a "village green" encircled by connected buildings capture the vision this plan sets up for the campus site.

President Richardson focused on developing a new mission statement for the college and a 5 year strategic plan to take the college into the millennial year. New student programs were central to the goals of the Richardson administration. The Freshman Year Experience, a national award winning array of programs to introduce first year students to college study, participation in Project Connect, a state of the art video/computer network connecting Buffalo State faculty with area high school classrooms, and a new master's program leading to a multidisciplinary degree in Great Lakes environmental studies are examples of the administration's commitment to providing quality learning experiences.

On August 16, 1979, Dr. D. Bruce Johnstone became the fifth President of college. Before coming to Buffalo, Dr. Johnstone spent seven years at the University of Pennsylvania in various administrative and academic positions. Prior to his years at the University of Pennsylvania, he served as a project specialist at the Ford Foundation and as administrative assistant to Minnesota Senator Walter F. Mondale.

Dr. Johnstone earned a B.A. in economics from Harvard College in 1963, a M.A.T. in social science education from Harvard University Graduate School of Education in 1964, and a Ph.D in higher education from the University of Minnesota in 1969. He has written, taught and consulted widely in the fields of higher education, finance and administration, and is a national authority on student loans.

On August 1, 1988, Dr. Johnstone assumed the office of Chancellor of the State University of New York System. As Chancellor, he gave SUNY vision and realism. In March of 1994, he resigned as chancellor for health reasons. He is a University Professor in the Educational Organization, Administration and Policy Department at the University at Buffalo. Currently, he working on two research grants: The Ford Foundation grant, for start-up of the Learning Productivity Network and TIAA/CREF grant for a project on Productivity in Higher Education: The Voice of Faculty (with the SUNY and Cal State faculty senate and unions.) .

A high priority of the college during the Johnstone years was the completion of the renovation of Rockwell Hall, beginning the construction on the Sports Arena and beautification of the campus. Among the beautification projects were improving the entrance the Elmwood entrance, planting trees along Rockwell Road, and installation of the Butler Ice Fountain, designed by the noted sculptor, Carl Nesjar.

During his presidency stress was placed on strengthening the academic programs at the college. The following developments took place: the development of new post-baccalaureate programs, strengthening of the basic skills programs, total revision of the he general education requirement, development of academic minors and the implementation of a writing across the curriculum requirement. In 1986, U.S. News and World Report gave the college a high ranking in its college report. He also campaigned to bring the Art Conversation program, one of only three in the nation, to the college.

One of his first tasks as President was to invigorate the Buffalo State College Foundation. When he became president assets were about $200,000. By the end of 1987, the Foundation assets were at $1,127,000 million.

Dr. E. K. Fretwell, Jr. was appointed president on August 2, 1967 and was inaugurated as the fourth president on May 10, 1968. Previously he held the position of dean of academic development of the City University of New York. At the time of his appointment as president he was on leave from the CUNY post, working in Albany as executive director of the Constitutional Convention's Committee on Education.

Dr. Fretwell received a B.A. degree from Wesleyan University in 1944, a M.A. in teaching from Harvard University and a Ph. D from Columbia University in 1953.

The 1970's were turbulent years in higher education and Buffalo State College mirrored those events. Beyond having to deal with these external forces, President Fretwell began to work on his goals for the college. One of the most important goals affected the governance structure of the college. In 1971 the College Senate was formed comprised of faculty, student and administrative representatives. Student government evolved into a new organization, the United Student Government in 1971. Both of these structures continue to exist today.

During the Fretwell presidency the college reached its highest total enrollment, up this time, to 12,604 students in 1975. The college looked to consolidation of administrative functions in 1976 by reducing the number of deans of faculties from 5 to 3 and changing the functions of student affairs and the policy and planning areas.

During the 1970's the state began a series of budget cuts which affected many of programs at the college. From this decade on each President has had to deal with state budget cuts to SUNY.

On September 8, 1978, President Fretwell resigned to accept a position as chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He served as chancellor from 1979 to 1989. Fretwell joined MDC, a private nonprofit research corporation in 1989. In 1991 he was chosen as interim president for the University of Massachusetts system. He is retired now. His latest publication is Wise Moves in Hard Times, published by Jossey-Bass Publishers in 1996.

Dr. Paul G. Bulger assumed the Presidency of the college on July 1, 1959. Prior to coming to Buffalo, he had been provost of the Teachers College at Columbia University.

He received a B.S. degree in 1936 and a M.S. degree in 1941 from the State University of New York at Albany and a Ed.D in higher education administration in 1951 at Columbia University. After receiving his degree, he stayed on at the Teachers College at Columbia as a member of the faculty, rising to the rank of professor, and then in 1955 named its provost.

The years of the Bulger presidency were marked by tremendous growth at the college. Most noteworthy were: student enrollment doubled and faculty size doubled and with such growth there was talk of the college becoming a university center for Western New York. The college became a multi-purpose educational institution granting liberal arts degrees in fields besides education. The administrative structure was changed to provide for three vice-presidents, including the first Vice President for Student Affairs at a SUNY campus. Governance councils were formed to give faculty and students a voice in the governance of the college. During his last year as president the Great Lakes Laboratory was approved by the trustees..

During his seven years at Buffalo State, he presided over multi-million dollar construction plans that included new buildings for the fine arts and industrial technology, physical education, science, the student union, the library, campus school and residence halls and the first renovation of Rockwell Hall as a center for the Performing and Visual Arts.

On January 1, 1967, Dr. Bulger resigned to accept the position of associate commissioner for higher and professional education in the State Education Department. He continued to be active in education circles from the 1970's through the 1990's.

Paul G.Bulger, known as a "gentle man and a scholar", passed away on February 6, 2000. His legacy as an educator and his contributions to the college will live on forever.

John Aiken's History of Community provides a detailed review of the presidencies of Richardson, Johnstone, Fretwell and Bulger.

Harvey M. Rice was born in Pinnacle, West Virginia in 1907. His undergraduate work was done at Concord College graduating in 1929 with a B. A. degree. He began his teaching career in Athens, Virginia in 1929 and in 1933 he received an M.A. degree from West Virginia University. In 1938 he received a Ph.D. from Ohio State University where he began his college career as an instructor in the History Department. He also was a professor of history at Albany State University from 1943 to 1947.

In 1947 Dr. Rice was named president of State Teachers College at Oswego (now known as SUNY College at Oswego). He left Oswego to assume the presidency of Buffalo State Teachers College on December 1, 1951. Before his appointment to the presidency of Buffalo State, he was elected president of the New York State Teachers Association. Teachers, who worked with him in this group, note his dedication to the teaching profession and his unusual charm. In 1958 he was named president of Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and retired from that position as President Emeritus in 1968. Dr. Rice died in 1992 in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the age of 85.

Dr. Rice, in his inaugural address at Buffalo State emphasized the importance of teacher-education institutions and the leadership, the college doubled in enrollment to approximately 4000 students. A $21,275,000 building program was developed to eventually serve 5000 students, a new enrollment goal for the college. Under President Rice, faculty and students served together on policy-making bodies, a change from the manner in which the college functioned under President Rockwell. His interest in students and in their activities gained him much popularity. Other notable changes during his tenure was the creation of two new divisions, that of General Education and Arts and Sciences and the adoption of a core curriculum - general education program for all students.

Harry Westcott Rockwell was born in Rochwell's Mills, New York in 1881. He received a B.A. degree in 1903 from Brown University. In 1917 he also received an M.A. degree from Columbia University and in 1922 hereceived a second M.A. degree from Brown University. Rockwell was awarded an honorary Ph.D. in 1922 from the New York State Teachers College at Albany. He taught at the Peddie Institute, Highstown, New Jersey, served as principal of high schools in Gilbertsville, Oneonta, and White Plains, as superintendent of schools in Oneonta and as supervising principal of Pelham Township schools before being named principal of the Buffalo State Normal School (now known as Buffalo State, State University of New York)in 1919.

Dr. Rockwell served the college for 32 years and during training certification curriculum and then in 1926 to a 4 year degree program in education. In 1926 the name of the institution changed from the Buffalo State Normal School to the New York State College for Teachers at Buffalo. Rockwell became the college's first president.

During his tenure, Buffalo State experienced tremendous growth. In 1919 the student body numbered 275 students and in 1951, when he retired, the student body had grown to 2,022. He presented over 10,000 diplomas and awarded more than 5,000 degrees in those 32 years of service. Under his guidance the college moved from its normal school site (presently Grover Cleveland High School on Fourteenth Street) of 3.5 acres to a 55 acre Elmwood Avenue location in 1931. Through Dr. Rockwell's efforts, the college won state approval as a teachers college; became the first state-operated college to offer a B.S. degree in elementary education; won an "A" rating from the American Association of Teachers Colleges and began granting master's degrees for its graduate programs. He also instituted a building plan for the college. From 1931 to 1951, when he retired, a student union, two dormitories, and a library were built; a science and industrial arts buildings were in the blueprint stage and a fine arts building was in the planning stage.

Dr. Rockwell was an inspiration to all. When he retired in 1951, the Elms Yearbook was dedicated to him. The students said "The many traditions such as Holly Hanging, Interclass Sing, Moving Up day, would be incomplete without President Rockwell sharing our enthusiasm and School Spirit." He was held in high regard by the faculty, staff and students. President Rockwell died in 1961. Rockwell Hall was named for him as a symbol of his dedicated service to the college.