Clifton L. Ganus, Jr. (1922–2019)

Ganus enrolled at Harding College in 1939, majoring in Bible and history. He graduated in May 1943 and went on to preach in Charleston, Mississippi. He went on to Tulane University where he earned his M.A. in 1946, followed by a Ph.D. in history from Tulane University from New Orleans, LA in 1953.

He served as the third president of Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas from 1965-1987. He was professor of history, chair of the department of history and social science, dean of the School of American Studies, and vice president of the college in 1956. In 1965, he was selected by the board to become the third president of Harding College, and he served in that role for 22 years, leading the college to university status and to significant growth in enrollment, academic breadth, and facilities. Upon his retirement from the presidency in 1987, he was named the university's chancellor, becoming chancellor emeritus in 2013.

He was an elder at the College Church of Christ for 54 years. Ganus’ son, Cliff Ganus III, is a professor in Harding’s music department and director of the university’s chorus.