Florida Southern’s legendary president from 1925 to 1957, Dr. Ludd M. Spivey revolutionized a struggling school into the modern educational institution that today is Florida Southern College.
His charismatic leadership increased student enrollment and inspired hundreds of alumni and friends to believe and invest in the College, rescuing it from near closure during the Great Depression.
Dr. Spivey continued to strengthen the College’s fiscal foundation while defining its progressive educational mission and goals, solidifying the College’s relationship with the United Methodist Church and inviting the foremost American-born architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, to build a “great education temple” on the shores of beautiful Lake Hollingsworth.
Dr. Spivey’s courage, vision, and guidance initiated Florida Southern’s development into an institution that today is a world renowned National Historic Landmark, rich in culture and beauty, and recognized nationally as a vibrant, award-winning engaged learning community.
Established in 2002 to honor Dr. Spivey, the Spivey Society is a recognition society for donors who make annual leadership gifts to the College. Each year, gifts from members ensure that the dynamic vision of Dr. Spivey is preserved and strengthened. Investments made by Spivey Society members have a transformational effect on the College’s annual fundraising program, which advances the mission of the College and supports the ambitions and achievements of thousands of gifted, service-minded students dedicated to making significant contributions to our local and global society.