The Board of Trustees of Ferrum College, along with college president Dr. Jennifer Braaten and distinguished guests, will hold a dedication ceremony at the entrance of Moore Hall, the college’s newest state-of-the-art residence hall, at 12:45 p.m. on Friday, November 2nd.  The building is named in memory of R. Stuart Moore, a former trustee and one of Ferrum’s most generous benefactors.

     Moore, who felt a need to help students who did not have the financial means for a college education, left a gift of $7.75 million to Ferrum College when he died in 1992.  The gift, one of the largest in the college’s history, helped set up two independent trusts that fund endowments for scholarships and operating costs.  Moore also donated his extensive art collection to Ferrum.  The collection, consisting of 117 paintings that Moore collected over his lifetime, can be seen in both the College President’s home and John Wesley Hall.

     Jane Stogner, a former art professor at Ferrum College, remembers Moore fondly and is thrilled the College decided to honor him in this way.   “He believed in the mission of the college and his passion in life was collecting art.”  Stogner says.  “I always had my students go over to the President’s home and John Wesley Hall to see his collection and understand the background. I truly believe that his generous gift enriched the lives of both our students and community because they were surrounded by beautiful art every day.”

     Moore was President and Chief Executive Officer of The Lane Co., a furniture manufacturer.  He did not attend Ferrum; however his mother believed in the college and its mission.  She sold baked goods at church to raise money for students who attended the original Ferrum Training School. Lisa Bowling, Director of Development at Ferrum College says, "While a savvy businessman driven by success, Stuart Moore was inspired by beauty, creativity, and people.  Just as his company took raw wood and formed treasures of lasting value, his philanthropy has transformed lives and created a human legacy that has enriched our communities and Commonwealth, as well as generations to come.  Moore Hall pays tribute to a leader who literally and figuratively changed the face of Ferrum College."

     Construction of Moore Hall began in January 2007 and was completed in only 8 months. It features houses 12 fully furnished apartments, each with 4 bedrooms, two baths, and a common area with kitchenette.  It is a twin to Arthur Hall, which was completed in 2006.  These two buildings, located in the center of the campus, represent the final phase of FerrumPLUS!, the college’s most ambitious construction and renovation project in 50 years.

     In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held inside Franklin Hall at the Blue Ridge Mountain Room.  Pictures and more details of Moore & Arthur Hall can be found at the following link http://www.ferrum.edu/residenceeducation/arthur.htm

     Ferrum College is a four-year, private, co-educational, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Ferrum offers a choice of nationally recognized bachelor’s degree programs at a cost well below the national average for private colleges. For more information on Ferrum, visit www.ferrum.edu.