EARNEST, G. (GEORGE) BROOKS

EARNEST, G. (GEORGE) BROOKS (2 Oct. 1902-13 Sept. 1992), Dean of Engineering and President of Fenn College, oversaw the transfer of the school to the State of Ohio in order to form CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY. Born in Mifflintown, PA, Earnest graduated from high school in Altoona, PA and attended Case Institute of Technology, receiving a Civil Engineering degree in 1927. After graduation, he served as a field engineer for construction of the Terminal Tower. In 1930 he joined the faculty of Case Institute as an instructor of engineering, earning his M.S. in 1933. Rising through the academic ranks, he became Professor of Engineering Surveying and director of Camp Case in 1948. Earnest left Case in 1951 to become Dean of Engineering at Fenn College and was made President of the college in 1952. During his first 10 years as president, a substantial endowment was established, new programs were instituted, and enrollment increased by about 70%. In 1965 Fenn College became the nucleus of Cleveland State University. The following year Earnest became director of the Fenn Educational Foundation, a non-profit corporation. Under his leadership, nearly half a million dollars was contributed for the development of cooperative education programs in Northeast Ohio. Earnest retired to Florida in 1980.

Earnest married Mary Alice McKeighan 28 Feb. 1928 and they had 2 sons, Samuel Allen of Murrysville, Pa. and David Brooks of West Bloomfield, Mich. He died in West Bloomfield.


Earnest, G. Brooks. A History of Fenn College (1974)


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