William H. Harless

The 16^th president was born in a log cabin in Kelsey, Upsuhr County, Texas on February 14, 1902. William H. Harless was offered the presidency of Gila Junior College on July 1, 1944, and filled the position on August 15, 1944 after completing his Ph.D. from Stanford in California.

With the war ending and the soldiers coming home, Harless realized that many of the young people wanted semi-professional training.

Thus his goal became the preparation of a plan for changes in the curriculum adding classes in trades, vocations, and general education to the school.

William H. Harless retired at the end of the 1949 term, leaving the college ready for another great leader.