Officials set to unveil College of Engineering historical marker

November 5, 2009

WHO: University of Florida and City of Gainesville officials.

WHAT: Unveiling of historical marker commemorating the original Benton Hall, the College of Engineering’s first building and one of UF’s first buildings in Gainesville. Named after the engineering college’s first dean, John R. Benton, the building was razed in 1967 and replaced by Grinter Hall.

WHEN: 3:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6

WHERE: Outside Grinter Hall on Union Road

CONTACT: Megan Gales, director of communications for the College of Engineering, 352-392-0984, mgales@eng.ufl.edu

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND: Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan, who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental engineering from UF, and Cammy Abernathy, engineering dean, will speak at the unveiling. Other speakers include UF Historian Carl Van Ness and Trudence Ramsay, a member of the UF Alumni Association Board of Directors and engineering college alumna. Friday’s unveiling will kick off a year-long series of events and speeches celebrating the engineering college’s 100th anniversary.