A Marvelously Rewarding Life

Eastern’s fourth president Charles R. Webb passes at 101

Charles Webb was preparing to settle back into his career as a history professor when he received a call that would forever change his life and the trajectory of what is now Eastern Connecticut State University. After fulfilling various administrative roles within the California State University system, Webb had just returned to the classroom — and his love of teaching — when he was asked to be Eastern’s fourth president.

When the opportunity came knocking Webb decided to leave southern California for the challenge that awaited in rural southern New England. He arrived in 1970 at the age of 50, and served as president for 18 years until 1988, a period of unprecedented growth for what was then Eastern Connecticut State College. Webb passed away peacefully in his sleep this past October days after his 101st birthday, but his legacy lives on with a firm imprint on the University today.

Impact and Legacy

Webb oversaw Eastern’s first building boom. The campus footprint nearly doubled in size with the development of the North Campus — from approximately 450,000 square feet to nearly 800,000. The number of buildings doubled to 30 with such recognizable structures as the original J. Eugene Smith Library (now Wood Support Services), the Sports Center, Student Center, Wickware Planetarium and others.

Under Webb’s leadership, Eastern also expanded the scope of its academic mission, transforming from a teachers college to an institution with multiple majors that are rooted in the liberal arts. The Schools of Arts and Sciences, Professional Studies and Continuing Education were established and new majors such as history and social sciences, economics, environmental earth science, communication, computer science and more were offered to students.

This academic expansion earned Eastern the status of “university” in 1983, its fifth and final name change. During Webb’s tenure, the student body also grew in diversity and size — from approximately 1,200 to 4,000 — and the faculty doubled to approximately 400.

Webb was a staunch supporter of NCAA Division III athletics, and instrumental in increasing Eastern’s varsity teams from four (all for men) to 11, including six for women. One of his first initiatives was launching construction of the $2.7 million Sports Center in February 1971. A national softball championship in 1981 was the beginning of nine national Division III championships in baseball and softball.

Interests and Personality

At the same time that Webb led one of Eastern’s major growth periods, he was also revered among students, faculty and staff for his personality and presence on campus. A fitness buff, he could be found swimming early morning laps in the Sports Center pool, playing a hearty game of tennis or attending an athletic event.

Webb was also a music lover and hosted a weekly jazz show on the campus radio station. He was an accomplished pianist and vibraphonist, performing on campus with “The Grooves of Academe,” a jazz band of faculty and local musicians. He reportedly paid his way through college playing piano and nearly pursued a career in music.

“My mother used to say that that I sang before I learned how to talk,” he told the Hartford Courant in a 1988 article about his retirement. When asked which instrument he’d want with him on a desert island, he quipped, “I’d choose the piano. But I suppose the vibes would last longer on a desert island than a piano would.”

Webb was a humorous yet serious man who was at once quiet and outgoing; reserved and approachable; self-confident and humble. In the Courant article, he is described as having a wry sense of humor with an edge of self-deprecation.

He took charge at Eastern during a time of social unrest and economic struggle as the nation grappled with the civil rights and women’s rights movements, controversy over the Vietnam War and stagflation — a term popularized in the 1970s to describe simultaneous economic stagnation and inflation.

In line with his humble and understated personality, Webb delayed his inauguration by two years. Sensitive to campus unrest over the Vietnam War, he said, “There was a lot of dissent and money problems and I felt that an inauguration was a waste of money.”

“It’s been difficult at times, but I never regretted it. It’s been a marvelously rewarding life.”

Retirement

With Eastern on solid footing and Webb approaching his 70s, he retired in 1988 and returned to California with his wife Andrée. “I want to get caught up on my reading, my writing and my music,” he told the Hartford Courant.

Among Webb’s accomplishments during retirement was the completion of his book “Andrée and the Education of a University President,” a tribute to his wife and life that was published in 2018 when he was 99 years old.

Webb began his career in public higher education in 1958 after four years as a lieutenant commander in the Navy. He was a history professor at San Diego State University from 1958-70 and took his first administrative position in 1964 as dean of academic affairs at Stanislaus (California) State College, where he later served as acting president. He was named associate dean of academic planning for California State Colleges and Universities in 1967 and later named deputy state college dean of that system. He held a master’s degree in history from the University of California at Berkley and a doctorate in history from Harvard University.

Webb is survived by his son Charles Richard Webb III, a landscape painter who goes by the name Richard Webb McDaniel. His wife Andrée preceded him in death in 2005.

Anyone wishing to make a gift in Webb’s honor may donate to the Andrée and C.R. Webb Endowed Scholarship, created in 1999 for students in good academic standing with financial need. Gifts by credit card can be made on the ECSU Foundation website and checks should be made out to the ECSU Foundation and sent to the Development Office, 83 Windham Street, Willimantic, CT 06226.