Sandhills Community College - Sandhills Yearbook (Southern Pines, NC)

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Dr. Stone was named first President of Sandhills Com¬ munity College December 27, 1963, and assumed his duties January 1, 1964. Through his efforts he has en¬ couraged interested citizens to make financial gifts for student scholarships, the college li¬ brary, an d educational pro¬ grams . 5

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History Of Zke College Sandhills Community College was the first comprehensive community college authorized and established as the result of legislation passed by the 1963 General Assembly of North Carolina. Shortly after passage of this legisla¬ tion, H. Clifton Blue of Aberdeen led a group of prominent Moore County citizens in petitioning the State Board of Education to establish a community college in Moore County. Upon approval of the petition, the citizens of Moore County voted in favor of a one-million-dollar bond issue for capital construction and a tax levy for the maintainance of college facilities. Twelve prominent men were appointed to serve as the Board of Trustees. In addition to Mr. Blue, who was appointed Chairman, were: Dr. W. E. Alexander and Dr. A. A. Vanore of Robbins, N. L. Hodgkins, Sr. and Robert S. Ewing of Southern Pines, J. E. Causey of Lakeview, J. C. Robbins of Aberdeen, Thomas B. Hunter of Rockingham, John F. Taylor of Pinehurst, L. L. Marion, Jr. of Cart¬ hage, Dr. Charles Highsmith of Troy, and Paul Dickson of Raeford. For the first time the Board met on December 4, 1963, a date observed each year as Founders ' Day. On December 27, 1963, Dr. Raymond A. Stone was appointed the first president of the new college and assumed his duties in January, 1964. With remarkable speed Dr. Stone planned the educational pro¬ grams, selected faculty and staff person¬ nel, and organized the courses of the curriculum. With the architects, Hayes- Howell and Associates of Southern Pines, Dr. Stone worked on the design of the buildings to be constructed on the 180 acres of scenic woodland donated by Mrs. Mary Luman Meyer of Pinehurst and Lake Forest, Illinois. Construction of the buildings began in November, 1964, with an appropriate ground-breaking ceremony with then Governor Terry Sanford as the speaker. The college opened to students in the fall of 1965 with classes held in nine different temporary locations in the town of South¬ ern Pines. A year later (September, 1966), Sandhills Community College moved into its permanent home. The brief but dynamic history was marked by two colorful and meaningful ceremonies in December, 1966. Dr. Raymond A. Stone was formally inaugu¬ rated as the first president of the College, and the buildings were formally dedi¬ cated. A feature of the two days of festi¬ vities was the naming of the science- technology building in honor of Mrs. Meyer, college benefactress. Today Sandhills Community College is the realization of the vision of dedi¬ cated persons who continue to work to¬ ward a goal of providing fine education, culture, and a better way of life for the young and the young at heart. Clockwise around the table, starting at the far left: Dr. Francis L. Owens; J. E. Causey; L. L. Marion, Jr.; Paul Dickson; Dr. Raymond A . Stone, president; Dr. W. E. Alexander, vice chairman; H. Clifton Blue, chairman; J. C. Robbins, secretary; Dr. A. A. Vanore; N. L. Hodgkins, Sr. , treasurer; Ralph Monger, Jr.; Robert S . Ewing; and Thoman B. Hunter.

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Administration The Dean of Instruction at Sandhills Community College and Associate Director of the Governor ' s Commis¬ sion to study the public schools of North Carolina was born and raised in Southern Pines. He received his B.A., M.Ed., and Ed.D., at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Formerly a teacher and administrator in North Carolina schools, Dr. Ray came to Sandhills from Fort Bragg Dependents ' School, where he was Assistant Superintendent. Dr. Richard S. Ray Dean of Instruction Edward W. DuRant, Jr. Director Planning Development S. G. Chappell Director Student Personnel Services W. E. Covington Business Manager 6