William Arthur Ganfield

William Arthur Ganfield (September 3, 1873, in Dubuque County, Iowa – October 18, 1940, in Wisconsin) was a figure in American higher education and served as president of Centre College in Danville, Kentucky from 1915 to 1921 and later president of Carroll College (now called Carroll University) from 1921 until his retirement in 1939.[1]

William Arthur Ganfield
Ganfield circa 1920
11th President of Centre College
In office 1915–1921
Preceded by	Frederick W. Hinitt
Succeeded by	R. Ames Montgomery
Personal details
Born	(1873-09-03)September 3, 1873 Dubuque County, Iowa
Died	October 18, 1940(1940-10-18) (aged 67) Wisconsin

Ganfield was a supporter of athletic programs at both schools. He was president at Centre College during the school's 1921 Centre vs. Harvard football game, when Centre scored a victorious upset over national favorite Harvard University. As of 2006, the game is still considered by ESPN as one of the greatest college football upset victories of all time.[2]

Ganfield continued his support of football as college president at Carroll. He boasted that within four years' time the school would be beating the Wisconsin Badgers in football.[3] In his first year as college president, the team fell far short of that mark with one win for the season and was outscored by 119 to 14 and left fans and the school administration sorely disappointed under head coach C.C. Boone. By 1925, the school had a perfect 8–0 season under head coach Norris Armstrong. As of 2008, the school has never played the "Badgers" in football.[4]