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."
In the late 1950s under the leadership of Governor Luther Hodges, a system of industrial education centers was established. Also, the state had previously established a separate system of public support two-year liberal arts colleges, which were located in Wilmington, Charlotte, Elizabeth City and Asheville. Therefore, the state at this time was supporting a system of four-year colleges and universities, a system of junior (liberal arts) colleges, systems of industrial education centers, and the public school system-serving grade 1-12.
Soon after assuming the governorship of North Carolina, Terry Sanford appointed the Governor’s Commission on Education beyond the High School. This commission was known as the Carlyle Commission in honor of its chairman, Irving E. Carlyle. Dr. C. Horace Hamilton, Reynolds Professor Of Rural Sociology at North Carolina State, was commissioned to do a study to determine the possible need for additional tax supported institutions to better serve the higher education needs of the state. The Carlyle Commission had directed Professor Hamilton to consider a number of basic assumptions in conducting this study. Among them were: (1) A low percentage (15-20%) of high school graduates were continuing their education at the post secondary level; (2) The higher cost of resident colleges education prevent many low income families from sending their children off to college; (3) Additional dormitory cost at the resident colleges and universities were as cost factor for consideration; and (4) The tax supported community college would belong to the local community served and would enhance the cultural, and social and economic needs of the area served. It was assumed that these small local colleges would stimulate and nurture the interest of the local citizens in better higher education opportunities. The college would have an impact on the total well being of the community served as well as the total state.
The Carlyle Commission report recommended the development of a 55-unit system of community colleges strategically located throughout the state. They were to be located in population centers where a minimum enrollment of at least 400 students was possible. These colleges were to be low cost and within easy driving distance of the majority of students in the service area. Each institution was to offer the first two years of college level courses in the arts, humanities and sciences as well as technical, vocational and non-credit adult education courses. New Bern and Craven County were among the list of 55 community colleges recommended by the Commission’s report.
In 1963, the North Carolina General Assembly created the Community College System by enactment of chapter 115-A of the General Statues of North Carolina. This action merged the two systems of public junior colleges and the system of Industrial Education Centers into on system. Only the college of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City joined the Community College System. The other units became a part of the University System, which were created later under the administration of Governor Robert Scott.
The year was 1963 and what was to become Craven Community College was only a small network of evening classes provided by the Lenoir Industrial Education Center in Kinston. My job was to organize and supervise these courses in Craven County. A local Advisory Committee was created to assist me and to develop plans for the establishment of a community college in Craven County. Chairman of this Advisory Committee was Lynn Kelso of New Bern. The Vice-Chairman was Mr. Albert Salem of Havelock and Mrs. Evelyn Haire of New Bern was Secretary. Some of the other members were Mr. Don Deichmann of New Bern, Mr. Bill Dawson of Cove City and Mrs. Donald Weatherington of Vanceboro. This committee was appointed by Mr. R. L. Pugh, Superintendent of the Craven County Schools, which was the local sponsoring agency for the development of the community college. The State Department of Community Colleges was also under the State Board of Education, which was also the policy making body for the state’s public schools (Grades 1-12).
Twenty-five years ago (1963) a number of physical changes were evident in New Bern. New Construction was moving the city south and west along highway 17 & 70. Two recently retired Marine officers by the name of Lynn Kelso and Clarence “Pop” Beasley had opened new real estate and insurance business the previous year in the old Carpenter’s Florist building on Broad Street. This building was located approximately where the exit driveway is now located where the exit driveway is now located at the First Citizens Bank Building diagonally across from the county courthouse on Broad Street. Mary Lafond was a popular waitress at Williams Restaurant and she gave Colonel Kelso anew title. The parking area at the new Beasley Kelso business had reserved parking in the rear of the building for their employees. Rather than using their names to reserve these spaces Mr. Kelso used the word “PRIVATE” to so designate these reserved spaces. Thus many called Colonel (Retired) Kelso “Private Kelso,” which added a little humor to the daily lunch hour at Williams Restaurant.
In 1963, I was still director of Vocational Education for the County Schools. Dr. Lewis S. Redd, the director of Craven Community College was then a senior at East Carolina University; Mr. Russell Sutton, the College Business Manage, was a junior at La Grange High School in Lenoir County. Louvenia Quinn Brown, the College Bookkeeper, was in fourth grade.
The year 1963 was a good year for North Carolina. This was the year that the state’s Community College System was created. Among the leadership in this movement was Dr. Dallas Herring, Chairman of the State Board of Education. Dr. I. E. Ready was to become the first State Director of Community College System. These two men were the best of friends and together they provided leadership and coverage that was needed to make North Carolina an example for other states.
It was a time of planning, surveys and research for us in Craven County. A community college was foremost in the plans for a better Craven County. Mr. Kelso and his committee were hard at work. The fruit of their labors were to become evident two years later. Next time we will discuss the establishment of the Craven unit of Lenoir Community College.