Robert Stanley Lambert: President 1953-1955
Dr. Robert Stanley Lambert was the unanimous choice of the Board of Trustees to become Berry's fourth president. He and his wife, Sylvia, had a strong relationship with the institution. Lambert, who had been rector at Calvary Episcopal Church in Cincinnati since 1931, had delivered two baccalaureate addresses at Berry. In addition, he and his wife brought groups of potential donors, the Cincinnati Pilgrims, to Berry on several occasions.
A native of Syracuse, New York, Lambert received his bachelor’s degree from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He studied at Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary before receiving his doctor of divinity degree from Elon College of North Carolina. In addition, he served as a chaplain in World War I and World War II.
Lambert was the first president to be inaugurated on April 9, 1954. His tenure saw improvements in salaries, external reviews of Berry's programs and operations and improvements in faculty qualifications. Berry's facilities improved as well, with the addition of a new men's residence hall and several faculty houses. In addition, the Lamberts were popular with students and alumni and hosted many events in their home.
Lambert moved to Florida and became rector of St. Mary's Episcopal Church and Episcopal Church of the Ascension, retired in 1967. Lambert died in 1983.