In the early part of the 20th century, the cadets of Clemson College, not intimidated by their strict military regime, bestowed nicknames on their professors. Some were "Wee Willie" Klugh, "Misery" Holmes, "Monk" Godfrey and "Jughead" Harris. One of the more memorable nicknames belonged to "Lord" Collings, an immaculate dresser and confident professor. One story has it that while he was walking across campus one day, a young man remarked, "There goes Professor Collings. He looks just like an English Lord!" The nickname stuck.

Gilbeart H. "Lord" Collings came to Clemson in 1917 to teach in the Agricultural School. He was passionately interested in all education, sending his own three children through college for graduate degrees on a teacher's salary. (Both sons earned Clemson undergraduate degrees, Gilbeart Jr. in 1937 and Thomas in 1950, while his daughter, Hazel, took summer classes at Clemson.)

In particular, the professor wanted his "Ag" boys to understand both traditional farming methods and newer practices. He was an autocrat in the classroom and not above intimidation: "The Lord has got you," was his introductory greeting to new classes. He required each student to obtain his own copy of the textbook rather than share with several others as was the custom although he did allow an exception for brothers and expressed admiration for a couple of enterprising young men who claimed "double-first cousinship."

He first became interested in agricultural research while at Virginia Polytechnical Institute and then pursued his master's degree at the University of Illinois. There he met and married Hazel W. Cover. He obtained his Ph.D. from Rutgers in 1925.

One of the foremost experts in the field of agronomy, Collings was the author of numerous articles and several textbooks published in English and Spanish and used worldwide. During his 43-year tenure at Clemson, he taught thousands of students and supervised many agronomic research projects all over the state. He also contributed to many professional and service organizations, including as a life member and president of the Pendleton Farmer's Society, president of the South Carolina Academy of Science and a Fellow of the American Society for Advancement of Science. He was also a deacon of the Clemson First Baptist Church.

The professor had a keen sense of the ridiculous and often gave a wry twist to his lectures. When lamenting the prevalent soil erosion, he is quoted as commenting, "I go down Sunday afternoons and watch the South Carolina farms flow by in the muddy Seneca River." He invited his students to aid in his fanciful research to attempt to pop corn while it was still on the cob. The members of one class, before an important quiz, decided to try bribery. When the professor walked into the classroom, he found his desk covered with fruits and candy. "Aha," he said, and walked to the blackboard to inscribe, "The Lord loveth a cheerful giver." He then proceeded to hand out the exam.

Collings became known as "the Lord" all over South Carolina and beyond. But his nickname once caused an embarrassing moment for his wife. While attending the annual president's reception for new faculty and staff, Mrs. Collings asked a young man, "And what department are you in?"

"I serve the Lord," he replied with a smile.

"How nice," she said. "He didn't tell me that he had a new assistant." It turned out, however, that the astonished gentleman was the new Methodist preacher.

Collings died in 1964 and was buried on Cemetery Hill to the west of the Calhoun family section. He always said that he would have the best position in the cemetery to watch all the football games in Memorial Stadium. With his long service to Clemson, he surely earned prime seats.

Click here to visit the Agronomy Web site.