Clinch Valley College - Outpost Yearbook (Wise, VA)

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e How It Began The County Poor Farm and curious cattle. In December 1953, the idea of having a branch ofthe University of Virginia was versed by Mrs. W. A. Thompson and Mrs. Lois B. Tracy to Mr. Sam Crockett who was then teaching extension classes in Wise. Following the sug- gestion a committee of men composed of Mr. W. A. Thompson, Mr. Fred Greear, Mr. K. P. Asbury, and Mr. M. M. Long met with Mr. Crockett to investigate the possibility of such an establishment. Obtaining the permission of Dr. G. B. Zehmer, Dean Extension and President Colgate W. Darden of the University, they met with the Gen- eral Assembly to get its approval of a branch. In January 1954, it consented and made a small appropriation to carry out this experimental program. By the last week of April, 1954, the Board of Supervisors of Wise County composed of B. H. Body, G. Maddox, G. Horne, and W. B. Lay offered the facilities of Wise and the building known as the County Poor Farm to the development of a college. In July 1954, the inmates of the home, originally built as a Detention Home for de- linquent girls in 1924, were transferred. Mr. Charles B. McElroy, local architect , directed the work which imme- diately began upon the building to suitably remodel it for ya school program. Mr. Crockett converses with Mrs. Tracy and Mrs. Thompson. Supporters who became the Advisory Committee li lil! I- 1 A

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:Di Q 4 ,. B V vi 1 1 Gathered in the Cavalier Room where Elmer and Mrs. Sheffield preside over the realm of thenourish- ing hamburger, students discuss the events of the dy. If this should be Mr. Smiddy's D-Day, proteins protoplasm, and cells will be under heavy discussion. Lately one can hear pros and cons of politics be- ing argued from numerous soap boxes. h llrr fi .AITIZ mmm mm 1252

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Mayor Vicars receives S 500 from First National Bank of Wise. Some of the members of the Lion's Club of Wise gave S 500. Harold Jackson and Orby Cantrell of Pound gave another S 500. In order to furnish the building with necessary equipment, contributions totaling more than S 5000 were made by various organizations and individuals in this area. The community which the college was to serve lent valuable support without which the college experiment would have been retarded. Fred Greear, University Alumnus, headed a group of Wise County Alumni in support of the college. He has now become a member of the Board of Visitors which keeps the University aware of the needs of the college. Other contributors not pictured are Herb Thompson, Piggly Wiggly, and many others. During the summer of 1955, with a special grant of S 5,000 from the C. Bascom Slemp Foundation and the re- mainder appropriated by the University, a modern well-equipped Chemistry Laboratory was established. The obvious success of the operation came by late fall of 1955 when the people joined with President Darden in requesting the legislature to appropriate funds to make the institution permanent. The 1956 session of the Virginia General Assembly appropriated a small operating budget and S 500,000 for the building of new buildings. On July 1, 1956, the Wise County Board of Supervisors, this time composed of E. E. Brooks, R. C. Sikes, E. D. Mullins, and John McKilgore officially deeded the property to the college. The University immediately purchased adjoining tracts of land to create a campus of approximately 250 acres. Earl and Payne Jackson of Pound contributed S 500. George Wharton of Wise who sparked the gift fund presented the first check of S 500 to Will Bond Lay. Kenneth Asbury receives S 500 hom Dick Sult of the First National Bank of Norton. ff' rv'