·There was a time when Due West was home to three different colleges with three different administrations - Erskine College, Erskine Seminary and the Due West Women's College. Each institution was governed separately and had its own president. Erskine Seminary, officially founded in 1837, had four presidents before 1925, when a consolidation process began merging all three schools into one for accredidation purposes. Dr. John S. Pressly was the first seminary president (1837-1860), followed by Dr. James Boyce (1869-1889), Dr. W.L. Pressly (1889-1906) and Dr. F.Y. Pressly (1906-1933). After consolidation in the 1920s, Erskine Seminary became the professional school of Erskine College, operating under the same Board of Trustees. The title of seminary leaders changed from President to Vice President and Dean.

·When the Civil War broke out in 1860, the work of Erskine Seminary was disrupted and discontinued. For some years after the war things were in a very disorganized state and there were very few students in the seminary. A new president was elected in 1869 and Erskine Seminary rebuilt its enrollment.

·The first official Vice President and Dean of Erskine Seminary after consolidation was Dr. R.L. Robinson (1933-1939). Robinson holds the distinction of being the only man to serve in key administrative positions at all three Due West insitutions. Robinson served as the last President of the Due West Women's College (1910-1927) before it merged with Erskine College, then served as a Vice President at Erskine College before being named to lead the Seminary in 1933. After only five years of service as Dean of the Seminary, Robinson died Jan. 10, 1939.

·As the Dr. R.J. Gore era begins at Erskine Theological Seminary, the 43-year-old vice president and dean must have an eye towards the future, if the past is any indication. Seven of his nine predecessors served in their positions 17 years or longer. "I told (Erskine President) Dr. (John) Carson that it is not like I was elected to the Supreme Court... this is no lifetime appointment," Gore said. "But as long as I can be effective and as long as God wants me here, I'll be here."

·The average term of service for an Erskine Seminary Dean is almost 18 years.

·Four seminary leaders held their positions for more than 20 years, including Dr. R.J. Gore's predecessor, Dr. Randall T. Ruble (1976-1997). Ruble's 21 years is the longest of any Vice President and Dean. Erskine Seminary Presidents with 20 or more years of service include Dr. John S. Pressly (1837-1860) for 23 years, Dr. James Boyce (1869-1889) for 20 years and Dr. F.Y. Pressly (1906-1933) for 27 years.

·The shortest term for an Erskine Seminary leader is two years, by President Dr. G.G. Parkinson (1939-1941).

·Dr. R.J. Gore, the 10th leader of Erskine Seminary, became the first Erskine Seminary professor to hood his wife at a graduation ceremony this year. Gore's wife Joan received the Master of Christian Education Degree at the 1998 Erskine Seminary graduation. Joan received her undergraduate degree from Temple University in business adminstration. Joan serves the Due West Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church as Youth Activities Director.

·Dr. R.J. Gore was the salutatorian at Fellowship Christian High School in Durham. Gore was also president of his high school Bible Club.

·Dr. R.J. Gore has traveled all over the United States, Europe and Korea during his military service. He was alerted to go into the Desert Storm conflict in 1990 and waited for orders for two weeks with his bags packed. Gore had volunteered to participate in Desert Stom when the conflict started, but instead was sent to Ft. Dix where he worked with wounded soldiers returning to the States.

·Dr. R.J. Gore is a fan of military history, especially Civil War history. He enjoys doing battlefield analysis, and has traveled to many Civil War battle sites. He became interested in military history during a one-year military stint in Korea. There, he visited the battlefield where Taskforce Smith was wiped out in 1950.

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