Albert Norman Ward

Remembered locally as the third president of Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College), Albert Norman (A.N.) Ward was born November 27th, 1871 in Jarrettsville, Maryland to John T. and Elizabeth Mellor Ward. Despite having the same last name as J.T. Ward (the WMC’s first president), the two were not related.

Ward was educated at local public schools before entering Towson State Normal School in preparation for becoming a teacher. After a year at Townson, he enrolled at Western Maryland College with the aim of joining the ministry. While a student, he met his future wife, Blanche Murchison. The two married in 1905 and had one son, Albert Norman Ward, Jr.

Following Ward’s graduation from Western Maryland College in 1895, he joined the Maryland Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church and was ordained as a minister in 1897. Ward spent the next eight years pastoring a church in Washington D.C. while simultaneously earning a Master of Arts degree in English Literature from George Washington University. In addition to his pastorate in Washington, D.C., Ward also served in churches throughout Maryland and for three years in Seattle, Washington (1906-09).

In 1905, Ward was elected to the Board of Trustees of Western Maryland College, a position he held until 1911. He also served as vice president for the college from 1913-1916 before becoming chancellor of Kansas City University (1918-1920). In July 1920, A.N. Ward succeeded T.H. Lewis as the third president of Western Maryland College.

During his tenure as president, Ward oversaw the construction of several new buildings, including a new athletic field, McDaniel Hall, and Science Hall (now Hill Hall). He also helped expand the college curriculum from three courses of study to seven. His accomplishments were recognized by honorary doctorates of divinity from both Adrian College and Otterbein College in Ohio as well as an honorary doctorate of laws degree from Kansas City University.

Ward died unexpectedly from a heart attack on September 22nd, 1935 at the age of sixty-four.