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."
The period between 1983 and 1985 was a time of planning for new buildings and new educational programs for the college. Mrs. Kathleen Orringer chaired a committee of Board Members that developed a plan for future construction based upon based upon the educational needs of the community. Dr. Redd and his staff assisted the Trustees by planning the planning the type of educational program and services needed in Craven County to complement future growth by the college. This was a worthwhile venture because the type of education program dictates the type of building space needed to adequately accommodate a given program.
Mr. Gray Lancaster, Jr. was Board Chairman and Dr. Charles T. Barker was Vice Chairman during this period of time. The 1984 fall quarter curriculum enrollment was 1961 compared to an enrollment of 1847 in the fall of 1983.
During this period of time, the services of National Public Radio became available for the first time to the central coastal area of North Carolina. This was a special project of Dr. Charles Barker, who is one of two Charter Members remaining on the Board of Trustees. Mr. Rob Shoaf was the first general manger of the station. At 6:00 a.m on June 4, 1984, WTEB began broadcasting for the first time. In addition to the College staff, Mrs. Kathleen Orringer and Dr. Barker were present on this historical date. However, it was not until June 1985 that the station was able to secure National Public Radio and Public Radio affiliation. These are two networks available for public radio stations throughout the nation. A satellite dish was made possible by a $20,000 grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation of Winston-Salem in July 1984. The satellite made NPR and APR programming available, and the new station was now on its way as planned by Dr. Barker.
In October 1984, Mr. McClanahan, Dean of Continuing Education, reported that the annual fire conference was held on October 14-16. The conference is held annually and attracts firemen from across the state who uses the campus facilities for their classes and training exercise. A total of 310 firemen attended this conference. This program was begun many years ago and has been planned and operated by Mr. McClanahan and his staff.
There are at least three employees of the College who look forward to the annual fire conference. On Saturday during the conference, the Cove City Fire Department provides the barbecue pork and chicken for the lunch each year. For Ed Davis, B. T. Jones, and Jack Hurley, this Saturday lunch is a special treat that they look forward to each year. So do I; it is the best pork and chicken I have ever eaten, including the other appropriated food items. I must say that the Cove City Fire Department provided the best barbecue around and so far as I am concerned they are number one.
During the same period of time as the fire conference the College instructional staff and instructional administration attended a statewide community college conference in Winston Salem. Dr. Redd reported to the Board of Trustees that 54 full-time faculty and administrators attended the meeting. State President Robert Scott was keynote speaker for the conference.
In April 1985, Mr. Ed Macomber became general manager of WTEB and Ms. Francine Sawyer began her duties as News Director of WTEB, where she remains today.
At the July 1985 Board meeting Mr. Donald Heath, current Board Chairman, thank the College and Radio Station for allowing the county to locate a transmitter at the station tower base an antenna on the tower for us to use by the County Fire and Rescue Departments. This action provided a much better radio signal to the western areas of the college.
Two new employees that you would know joined the College in the summer of 1985. Mrs. Kathy Banks began as a faculty secretary on May 6, 1985. She is now secretary of Dean of Students, Mr. Clifford Swain. On August 1,1985, Mr. Philip Evancho began his duties as the College’s Visiting Artist. All who know Philip are aware of his superb talents and the outstanding job he is doing for the College.
Mr. Will Thomas began his tenure as a member College Board of Trustees on July 1, 1985. He replaced Mrs. Loretta Smith, who had been helpful in promoting a music program for the College and a big supporter of the public radio station at the College.
Also, it was announced at this Board meeting that Senator Joe Thomas had secured $1.5 million from the N.C. General Assembly to construct a new building on campus. These funds were to matched by the county funds and this is the source of funds for the buildings “D” and “E” now nearing completion on the New Bern campus. I will always be grateful to Senator Thomas for his support of Craven Community College. Without the state funds he secured back in 1985, these two buildings would not be under construction.
On July 16, 1985, Dr. Charles Barker was elected Board of Chairman and Doug Nelson was elected Vice Chairman. Mr. Lancaster was given a special plaque as outgoing Board Chairman. The plaque was special because Mr. Russ Sutton, Business Manager, and College Dean Dr. Redd had made the plaque from a piece of walnut lumber that came from the farm of Mr. Heath. Mr. Heath and Mr. Lancaster are both farmers and have been good friends for many years.
The College radio station has been mentioned several times throughout this article. I think it might be appropriate to close this article with additional information about WTEB and its role at the College. The station is owned by the College Board of Trustees, just as they hold all other College property in the trust for the public. Therefore, it is part of the College, and WTEB employees are College employees. The President of the College is the Chief Administrator of the radio station, which is operated by a General Manager who reports directly to the College President.
The funds to operate the station are provided in part by the N.C. General Assembly, but additional funds are always needed. That is why the stations depend upon financial support from its listeners, and two on-the-air fund drives are held each year. There are other funding sources such as underwriters who provide some of the monies needed such as Burroughs Welcome, Carolina Telephone, and NCNB as examples. To enable WTEB to operate successfully as a quality station with the highest quality programs, it is dependent upon the financial support of its listeners. Listener support makes a good station a great station. If WTEB is your kind of music and news station, give it your support. Its future depends upon you.