William Arthur Ganfield

The Reverend William Arthur Ganfield
Ganfield c. 1921
6th President of Carroll College
In office December 1, 1921 – July 1, 1939
Preceded by	Herbert Pierpont Houghton
Succeeded by	Gerrit T. Vander Lugt
11th President of Centre College
In office June 1, 1915 – December 1, 1921
Preceded by	Frederick W. Hinitt
Succeeded by	R. Ames Montgomery
Personal details
Born	(1873-09-03)September 3, 1873 Cascade, Iowa
Died	October 18, 1940(1940-10-18) (aged 67) Chicago, Illinois
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Clara Boardman ​ (m. 1901)​
Education	St. Mary's Seminary Cornell College McCormick Theological Seminary University of Chicago

William Arthur Ganfield (September 3, 1873 – October 18, 1940) was an American pastor, educator, and academic administrator who was president of Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, from 1915 to 1921 and then of Carroll College (now called Carroll University) in Waukesha, Wisconsin, from 1921 until his retirement in 1939.

A preacher in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Ganfield was hired to join the history faculty at Carroll in 1904 and stayed in Waukesha until 1915, when he was elected president of what is now Centre College. There, he reversed decisions made by his predecessor, Frederick W. Hinitt, in order to restore the school's close connection with the church, leading to an increase in enrollment and a successful fundraiser. Centre experienced significant athletic success during Ganfield's tenure, particularly in football; the 1919 team was retroactively recognized as national champions and the 1921 team won a major upset victory over Harvard. By the time of the Harvard game, Ganfield had already agreed to return to Carroll as their president, though his contract stipulated that he would not begin the position until after the game.

Ganfield, who took office at Carroll directly after the school's first lay president, kept its ties to the church intact and maintained daily chapel attendance as a requirement of all students. Enrollment and the endowment both grew during his nineteen-year term, the latter to $800,000 by his retirement. Athletics enjoyed increase attention and success; Norris Armstrong, a former member of Centre's football team, came to Carroll in 1923 to coach the football and basketball teams, both of which won numerous league titles. As faculty numbers grew, fixed salaries were implemented and pensions were introduced during the Great Depression. Ganfield retired in 1939 due to poor health and died the following year.