Is it possible for a twelve-year old country boy to dream of becoming a college president when he first glimpses the academic world during commencement? George Arnold proves that it can be done. He carefully calculates his every move with the intention of grooming himself for a presidency. He is a high school debater, football and basketball player. He wins a scholarship to attend Lathrop College. He is elected to the presidency of the Freshman, Sophomore Classes and his fraternity. He wins the prestigious Founder's Award and is a Rhodes scholar. During his post-doctoral work at Harvard he meets and soon marries the beautiful Ashley Armstrong. Their love is a lasting one that concentrates on his ambition to be a college president. Tragedy enters their lives when their two sons are hemophiliacs and die young. Later they are the parents of twin girls who are winsome and popular on the Lathrop College campus where George is president. As he introduces many innovative programs and promotes the prestige of the college his basketball coach breaks rules by getting alumni to donate cars to the black basketball players, and to deposit $10,000.00 for each player for spending money. When this comes to light the coach is fired and George is given a vote of no confidence by the college Senate and the Assembly. He takes early retirement and because of his skill in raising money he is offered a job with the Woodward Trust. |