Dr. Thurman Brock was a part of Craven Community College's story from the very beginning. His first day on the job was Aug. 15, 1961 as the inaugural Director of Vocational Education for Craven County Schools. He went on to become the College's first president, serving April 23, 1968–December 31, 1989.
To help preserve his institutional knowledge from those early years, Dr. Brock wrote an 18-part history of the College in 1984-85 for the school newspaper, "The Panther."
May I begin this article by saying, “Welcome back” to all our students and employees. I hope that this school year at Craven Community College brings the best to each one of you.
This article will focus upon the 1971-72 academic year. Since I was on educational leave of absence from Sept. 1, 1971 through August 31, 1972, I have relied heavily upon the minutes of the Board of Trustees in writing this article.
The first meeting of the College Board of Trustees on the new campus was July 20, 1971. Mr. Sidney R. French Jr. was elected by the New Bern and Craven County schools boards to replace Mr. James B. Wiggins as trustee, effective July 1. Mrs. Leah Ipock was also reappointed by the Craven County Board of Commissioners to a new term beginning that date.
Mrs. Evelyn Haire reported that Mr. Carmi Winters, a Craven County Commissioner, had expressed an interest in the college’s constructing on campus a number of tennis courts for use by the college as well as the general public. This was the beginning of a plan that led to the construction the current general-purpose ball field (used for soccer), the former outdoor basketball and volleyball courts (now under building E) and the four tennis courts.
These facilities are made available to the Craven County and New Bern recreation departments as well as the general public. Mr. Winters had a great idea and the college is grateful to him and the other commissioners for their financial support of these outdoor physical education facilities.
Also the July meeting, Mr. Ed Cella was elected Chairman of the Board and Mrs. Haire was elected Vice Chairman. Dr. Norris Bell was approves as Acting President for the period Sept. 1, 1971 through Sept. 1, 1972 to serve during my educational leave. For the same period, Dr. Mike Henderson was employed as Acting Dean.
For the benefit of students currently enrolled at Craven Community College, let me explain that the campus facilities were quite different in 1971-72. The library was located in what is now the Student Services area of Building B. The Learning Lab in the current bookstore was located where the purchasing office is now. None of the parking lots were paved, but they were covered with gravel and parking lot No. 2 was curbed and prepared for underground drainage.
Building C only contained the student lounge, the machine shop, and one classroom. The driveway on campus and to the rear of the machine shop was paved, as well as the circle driveway on Opportunity Way. On Oct. 12,1971 the Board of Trustees awarded a contract for the paving of parking Lot No. 2.
In January 1972, the Board of Trustees approved the employment of part time faculty. Included among the list of 29 individuals were Mr. Clifford Swain, who was at that time a teacher at Central Elementary Schools in New Bern, and Mrs. Ed. Armstrong, who was employed in the Claims Department of State Farm Insurance Company in New Bern.
Winter quarter enrollment was 350 students in curriculum programs and 384 in continuing education classes. Also, the Trustees adopted a resolution congratulating Pamlico Technical Institute for successfully passing a board issue to begin construction and a new campus.
The Board of Trustees in April approved the employment of Mr. Linwood Brown as a part-time masonry instructor. He is a graduate of A & T State University in Greensboro and taught masonry in Wayne County Schools from 1964-71. He taught in the Craven County system since 1971. Mr. Brown is currently a member of the Board of Trustees and also teaches at West Craven High School.
The academic year 1971-72 marked the first full year of operating for Craven Technical Institute on its new campus. I was on an educational leave of absence for most of this period, but it represented a new beginning since it was the first time that our students and faculty had adequate facilities in which to apply the teaching-learning process. The institution was also accredited in December 1971 by the Southern Association of Colleges and School. It was a great time to be a part of Craven Technical Institute.