Inauguration History

Past Inaugurations

The inauguration of a new president is always a historic moment. At the University of Florida, President Stuart R. Bell’s inauguration marks the 10^th such moment since the university opened its doors in Gainesville in 1906.

The Gator inauguration tradition dates back to UF’s fourth president, J. Hillis Miller, whose ceremony was held March 5, 1948, at Florida Field – the football field, created in 1930, that was later transformed into Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Hillis Miller’s inauguration festivities – which spanned three days — occurred in an era of rapid expansion for UF as GIs returning from World War II signed up as Gators on the G.I. Bill.

UF’s first three presidents — Andrew Sledd, Albert Murphree and James Tigert — did not have formal ceremonies. All the presidents who have followed Hillis Miller had inaugurations except President Charles Young (1999-2003), who began as interim and did not have an inaugural ceremony when his position became permanent.

Although timeless in their purpose of celebrating a new leader and a new chapter for the university, presidential inaugurations are also – inevitably — of their times.

UF sent out a news release asking Gainesville residents to open their homes to host guests of Hillis Miller’s inauguration after the city’s few hotel rooms filled. Reitz’s friends sent him congratulatory telegrams. See these and other artifacts and pictures of past inaugurations in the images below.