William Lincoln Giles (July 5, 1911 – May 13, 1997) was president of Mississippi State University from 1966 to 1976.
[1] Giles served in the army during World War II, and worked at the Soil Conservation Service in Kansas and the Agricultural research Center in Maryland before coming to Mississippi State University in 1949.
At that time is served as the University's Seed Technology Laboratory manager, a position he kept for three years before moving to the Delta Branch Experiment Station in Stoneville, MS.
During his tenure, he was responsible for a large building program that included the addition of a new student union, chapel (built from the remains of Old Main), student health center and over 35 academic buildings that were either constructed, enlarged or renovated.
[3] Giles Hall which houses the Mississippi State University College of Architecture, Art, and Design is named in his honor.