A College of Arts and Sciences Legacy
On Ginny Black’s 16th birthday in 1936, her father and UT graduate, Ralph C. Girkins Sr., brought her and her mother to the restaurant in the basement of the newly built Libbey Hall. Ginny recalls how proud they were to be enjoying her birthday on the growing campus. Little did she know that her father was the beginning of a legacy.
Four generations of Ginny’s family have been touched by the College of Arts and Sciences at The University of Toledo. “I was very fortunate to be able to go to UT,” she says. “My father took out a $50 loan to pay for my first semester.”
While studying, Ginny fell in love with Art Black, an honors student studying chemistry. Like Ginny’s father, Art was a loyal fan of UT. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in chemistry, serving during seven Navy battles in the Pacific, and marrying Ginny, Art joined UT's chemistry faculty in 1946 and completed his master’s degree there.
Ginny was teaching Toledo youth while Art, in addition to being a professor, held numerous administrator positions in the College of Arts and Sciences, including associate dean. Because of his passion for teaching students, Art continued to instruct even after retirement, until 1996.
Continuing in the steps of the two generations before them, all three of Art and Ginny’s children attended UT. Jeffrey Black was in one of the first graduating classes in Environment Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences. And Curt Black continues to support UT as a professor of clinical pharmacy.
In addition, their granddaughter, Melissa Black, graduated with a master’s in business and is currently working for Smucker’s. Ginny and Art’s grandson, Andrew Black, is pursuing his bachelor’s in communication and plans to graduate in May.
Like his parents, grandparents and great grandparents, UT is in Andrew’s blood. “My great grandfather helped build University Hall, I attended Rocket basketball games with my grandfather as a kid, I was part of enrichment classes growing up, and I went to Apple Tree Nursery School,” he says. “UT is home to me.”
In honor of Art’s love for inspiring students and teaching them about chemistry, the Arthur H. Black Award in Analytical Chemistry was created. The scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students with outstanding abilities in analytical chemistry. In addition, the Arthur H. & Virginia R. Black Academic Scholarship is awarded to sophomore and junior chemistry majors aspiring to become professional chemists.
UT’s College of Arts and Sciences has an immense impact on the lives and careers of those who have graduated from there. And Ginny and Art’s family is a testament of the 100 years of success the College of Arts and Sciences has had on students and the community.
To learn more about the College of Arts and Sciences and scholarships offered, call (419) 530-2675.
