Alfred B. Rollins

Alfred Brooks Rollins, Jr. (28 May 1921 in Presque Isle, Maine - 20 February 2013 in Norfolk, Virginia) was an American author and former President of Old Dominion University (1976-1985).

Early life
Albert was born in Presque Isle, Maine on 28 May 1921 to Albert Sr. and Clarissa J. Rollins. He grew up in Hartford, Connecticut and graduated from Hartford High School. He attended Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut but dropped out in 1942 to join the military.

Military service
Albert enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1942. He served with the 720th Bombardment Squadron, 450th Bombardment Group during World War II. He flew successfully in over 50 missions. He was honorably discharged from the service as a First Lieutenant. He was awarded the Pilot Badge, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with four Oak leaf clusters, American Campaign Medal, European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 4 Service stars, World War II Victory Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and Army of Occupation Medal.

After the war
He returned to Wesleyan after the war, and received a Master of Arts degree in History in 1946. He continued his graduate education at Harvard University and received a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1948. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Chi Psi. Alfred began his lifetime of teaching as an Instructor at New Paltz State Teachers College in l948, and was a full professor when he left in 1963. In 1963, he became Chair of the History Department at SUNY at Binghamton. In 1967, he moved to the University of Vermont as a Professor, and soon became Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences then Vice President for Academic Affairs. In 1976, he arrived at Old Dominion University as the University President and led the university until 1985. He left the Presidency in 1985 and returned to teaching history at ODU, until he retired in 1991.

Personal life
Alfred married Ernestine McMullin who would later pass away in 1972. He married Faith Kenyon Prior and she also passed away in 1979. He married Helen Jones and they would stay together until his death in 2013. He has 3 children during those marriages, they are John D. Rollins, James S. Rollins, and Nancy J. Rollins.

Death
Alfred passed away on 20 February 2013 in Norfolk. He was 91. He was buried in the Rollins Family Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia.

Books written

 * Roosevelt and the Age of Action (1960)
 * Roosevelt and Howe (1962)
 * Woodrow Wilson and the New America (1965)
 * Depression, Recovery, and War: Volume 7 (1966)