Preston’s Tenure Remembered
Bill Meredith
Dr. Robert Preston, longtime Professor of
History at Mount St. Mary’s College, has
resigned from the Mount’s faculty and will
become Provost of Trinity College in Washington,
D. C.
When colleges are taking applications for
administrative positions, it is customary to
keep the names of the applicants confidential
until the process is complete. Benjamin Franklin
said that three people can keep a secret only if
two of them are dead, and this is especially
true at the Mount; the college is a close knit
community where everyone usually knows
everything about everybody. However, in this
case confidentiality was maintained; only a few
individuals who had written recommendations for
Preston were aware that he was considering a
move. Therefore, the news of his departure came
as a shock to the Mount faculty and staff.
Bob Preston came to the Mount in 1968 as
Instructor in History; like many young faculty,
his academic credential was "ABD,"
meaning that his work on the Ph. D. was
completed "all but dissertation."
Teaching loads were greater in those days than
now, and no exception was made for rookies. Bob
had the daunting task of finishing his degree
work while teaching a full load of courses for
the first time. He completed the degree on
schedule and rose steadily through the academic
ranks, being promoted to Full Professor in 1980.
The years immediately after Bob’s arrival
at the Mount were turbulent times. The college
had grown slowly in the years after World War
II, but it was starting to increase more rapidly
as the "baby boom" generation reached
college age. Internally, the college was
changing; the first lay president was appointed,
complex new systems of governance were
developing, and women joined the faculty and
student body for the first time. Superimposed on
all these things was the national social turmoil
associated with the Vietnam War.
Survival as a young professor in such times
required tact and diplomatic skill as well as
hard work, and Bob did more than survive; he
became a leader. In a department known for high
standards and strong personalities, he
maintained a program of scholarship, bringing
students and citizens of Emmitsburg together in
oral history studies of the town. A popular
teacher from the start, he communicated easily
with students and gained their trust, often
serving as a mediator in the conflicts that
arose over changing standards of behavior in the
early `70’s. He was known for a quick wit that
could defuse tense situations in meetings, for
an objective approach to problems, and for
honesty and candor. These qualities brought him
to the chairmanship of the History Department
and to leadership roles on most of the important
policy-making committees of the college. One of
his most important tasks was authoring the
college’s report to the Middle States
Accrediting Agency in 1984. His many
contributions to the college were recognized
when he was awarded the President’s Medal this
spring. The college will miss him.
Bob and his family have been active members
of the Emmitsburg community. His wife, Jennie,
is a teacher in the Frederick County school
system. Their children all attended local
schools, and several went to the Mount; three
grandchildren have recently appeared. Of course
his greatest contribution to the community was
serving as mayor for nine years; as described
elsewhere in this issue. Happily for the
Emmitsburg community, the Prestons plan to keep
their home here. We wish them well as they start
this new chapter in their lives.
The
community-minded
teacher
William H. Carr
Mayor, Town
of Emmitsburg
- Elected Commissioner in April 1980
- Elected Board President in May 1981
- Elected Mayor in April 1982, Served until
1991
Dr. Robert Preston, recent recipient of the
Mount Saint Mary’s President’s Medal, served
the Town of Emmitsburg as mayor from 1982
through 1991. A Council member from 1980 through
1982 and again as Commissioner in 1991 through
1992. Wearing two hats was Bob Preston’s role
through periods of growth and change both for
Mount Saint Mary’s College and the Community
of Emmitsburg. His accomplishments at Mount
Saint Mary’s College are well known and have
been acknowledged in other stories, but his
glowing record as Emmitsburg’s commissioner
and nine years’ service as mayor may not be as
well known.
While carrying a full load at Mt. St. Mary’s,
Dr. Preston became interested in Town activities
and government in the late 1970’s and finally
resolved to become actively involved in 1980 when he was
elected a commissioner. Following a year of
internship he was elected by the Council as its
president in 1981. His enthusiasm, interest and
abilities led to Council and citizen support as
a mayoral candidates in 1982. The successful
election of Robert Preston as mayor in 1982 was
the beginning of a nine-year period during which
Mayor Preston guided our community through
stabilization, growth and recognition.
Profoundly fair, Mayor Preston quickly
established a sense of order in Town government
regarding existing ordinances and rules.
Deliberations by the Council were always
structured with fairness to the community and
its citizens as a foundation to the Council’s
actions. While not always pleasant, the resolve
of the Board was to be fair minded. The Town
meetings soon became a sounding opportunity for
acting government and citizens alike to express
support, complaints and suggestions for Council
consideration. Mayor Preston’s leadership
talents were instrumental in accomplishing a
stabilizing effect on Emmitsburg’s
governmental actions.
Emmitsburg’s identity is Small Town America
and Mayor Preston did much to preserve and
enhance that identity. Perhaps a highlight
during Mayor Preston’s tenure was the main
street refurbishment and the resulting Main
Street Award from the State. From a high-crowned
and badly drained central street to an
attractive lamp-lit main thoroughfare–this
accomplishment of Town government will always he
remembered as being done while Bob Preston was
mayor. There were other growth factors that took
place during this period that are not as evident
as our main street. The Town has a modern sewer
plant facility that was established during Mayor
Preston’s tenure. Although the sewer plant
initiative was the result of many people working
in many areas, planning, fiscal and
construction, it was under Mayor Preston’s
leadership!
Recognition of Emmitsburg outside our
boundaries as to who we are and what we are
trying to accomplish is paramount to our success
in many ways. Mayor Preston was aware of this
fact early on during his tenor as Mayor. Outgoing in
personality, Bob Preston was active in county
and state functions. A participant and onetime
President of the Council of County Governments,
our Mayor made many friends involved in
government who helped us then and are still
attuned to our Town.
This synopsis of Dr. Preston’s dedicated
service to Emmitsburg is greatly condensed. The
vast number of meetings, the late night phone
calls, the travel to out-of-town commitments,
the mediation of citizen complaints and the
pressure of his full-time job all equated to a
heavy load, Bob Preston handled it well.
The citizens of Emmitsburg were fortunate to
have had Dr. Preston as the community’s Mayor;
he will be long remembered
Read
Bob Memories of his tenure as Mayor of Emmitsburg