Hal Reed Ramer, of Nashville, died February 13, 2010. Dr. Ramer served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Pacific theater during WWII. After the war, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Peabody College and his master’s degree from the University of Tennessee, College of Social Work. In 1953, he joined his brother at Ohio State University, where he served for a decade as Staff Assistant to the President, Assistant Dean of Men and Director of the George Wells Knight International Center. While at Ohio State, he completed his doctor’s degree. Dr. Ramer returned to Nashville to accept the position of Assistant State Commissioner for Higher Education of the Tennessee Department of Education, a position he held until 1970. Working with the Governor, the State Legislature and the State Board of Education, he played a central role in establishing Tennessee’s network of 13 community colleges. Dr. Ramer received the State Department of Education’s Distinguished Service Award in 1970. On July 1, 1970, Dr. Ramer was named founding president of Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, Tennessee, a position he held for 33 years until his retirement in 2003. Under his leadership, Vol State grew from 4 buildings and 581 students to 10 buildings and 7,000 students at his retirement.