Whose House? Building Names at Georgia Southern: Hendricks Hall

Elder J. Walter Hendricks was the first Principal of the Agricultural and Mechanical School (A & M School for short)(Later named Georgia Southern University). He was tasked with overseeing the original school and making the tough decisions that would keep the school open to future students. Before he was principal of the A & M School, he was the principal of another school in  Douglas, Georgia. After retiring from the school he would go on to be a Primitive Baptist Elder to many churches one in Tattnall county and others in Savannah. His sermons can be found in the Georgia Southern University Special Collections. Hendricks Hall originally named after him was in the sixties and in 2006 was renovated to be used as the Public Health College Building.

On January 14, 2004, the Board of Regents established the first School of Public Health in the University System of Georgia and named it the Jiann-Ping Hsu School of Public Health. The School was housed within the College of Health and Human Sciences. The School’s establishment was made possible by a generous gift from Dr. Karl E. Peace, in memory and honor of his wife, Dr. Jiann-Ping Hsu.

Currently, the College offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees as well as an online Certificate in Public Health. The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) has emphasis areas in Health Education and Promotion, Global Health, and Environmental Health Sciences. The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree has concentration areas in Applied Public Health (online), Biostatistics, Community Health, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, and Health Policy and Management. The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree has concentrations in Biostatistics, Community Health Behavior and Education, Epidemiology, Health Policy & Management, and Public Health Leadership (online).

Georgia Southern University, "The George-Anne" (1963). The George-Anne. 2507.

GSU dedicates Hendricks Hall. https://www.wtoc.com. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2022.

Georgia Southern University, "The George-Anne" (1969). The George-Anne. 525.

Hendricks, J. W. (1960). The autobiography of Elder James Walter Hendricks with a series of stories from life and with a few tracts and theological treaties. Galileo. Retrieved April 27, 2022.

Georgia Southern University, "Reflector" (1933). Reflector Yearbook. 7. 

"Statesboro News" (1909). Bulloch County Newspapers (Single Issues). 4853.

Elder James Walter Hendricks (1873-1962) - find a... Find a Grave. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2022.

Ghs. (n.d.). Love's Chapel Primitive Baptist Church. Georgia Historical Society. Retrieved April 27, 2022.