William S. Denison pledged $10,000 toward the Granville College, which was a Baptist school. Honoring an earlier commitment, the trustees accordingly changed the name of the institution to Denison University. They also voted to move the college to land then available for purchase in the village of Granville. Denison died in 1880. William S. Denison William S. Denison (17941880) was a Baptist farmer who was a major benefactor and namesake of Denison University in Ohio. William S. Denison was born in Colrain, Massachusetts on November 13, 1794 as the youngest of eight children. His family was originally from Stonington, Connecticut. Denison migrated to
William S. McEllroy J. Armstrong) and was the singles runner-up in 1915 (falling to future International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Clarence Griffin.) Other Notable Results: William S. McEllroy William S. McEllroy (September 22, 1893, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – January 2, 1981, in State College, Pennsylvania) was tennis player in the early part of the 20th century. A member of the University of Pittsburgh's tennis team, he served as coach of its tennis team in the 1920s and 1930s. He also obtained a medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh and later served as Dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.