College of Charleston Honors Historical Alumnus
posted 4:25 pm Sun December 16, 2007 - Charleston, SC
Eddie Ganaway fought for his country before reaching the steps of the College of Charleston.
After serving in the Vietnam War, Ganaway looked for direction.
"And I was looking to do something with my life after having served," he said.
He found his direction, towards the College of Charleston in 1968, but an African American had never enrolled. "Actually, it was a simple matter of my writing and saying I want to come," said Ganaway.
More than 30 years ago, the College of Charleston "opened its gates to Ganaway and his dreams.
"When I first saw the college in the 50s I was a little kid, I saw this vision and it prefigured something for me, in terms of what I, who I was really, what I could be," said Ganaway.Ganaway recalls it wasn't easy for him to take that step.
"I desperately wanted to come to the place, but I was scared to death that I wouldn't quite cut it," said Ganaway.
Ganaway made it and he graduated with a degree in History and went on to graduate from Duke University and became a teacher. Thats why, decades after his graduation, the College of Charleston is honoring him.
During the ceremony, he offered words of advice to the graduates: "take those steps toward the future with determination and strength."
President Theodore Stern presented Ganaway with an honorary degree.
He had presented Ganaway with his undergraduate degree back in 1971.
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