CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — John Grinalds, who as president of The Citadel helped the state military college move forward after its tumultuous fight over the admission of women, said Tuesday he is retiring as of Aug. 1.
Grinalds, 67, a retired Marine major general, came to the school in August 1997 when it was routinely in the national headlines because of its fight to keep women rom joining its formerly all-male corps of cadets.
"With the tireless work of many people, especially those who have been in the corps of cadets since 1996, we have arrived at the point where the corps of cadets is coeducational and all students, regardless of gender, are considered cadets, period," Grinalds said.
There are now more than 120 female cadets at the military college.