Blanford Barnard Dougherty was born in Watauga County, North Carolina, on October 21, 1870. Dougherty was a lifelong educator who led efforts to organize the Appalachian Training School (now Appalachian State University). He served as president of the school from its founding in 1903 until his retirement in 1955. He died in Winston-Salem (Forsyth County) on May 27, 1957.