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 Board of Trustees held a meeting July 8,1969, in the County Commissioners’ Board Room of Craven County courthouse to begin the 1969-70 academic year. In addition to Trustees, others attending were: Mr. John Peterson, architect, and Mr. James Wrenn, Dean of Students. Mr. Wrenn informed the Board the graduation would be held on August 29, 1969, at Bridgeton Elementary School auditorium with Representative Chris Barker as graduation speaker. Also a letter of congratulations was sent to Mr. D. L. Stallings upon his election to the office of President of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.
At the fall quarter meeting of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Wrenn reported that 290 students were enrolled in curriculum programs for that quarter. This compares to an enrollment of 88 in the fall quarter of 1968. The Board of Trustees also approved the employment of Mrs. Winner Cotton, full-time LPN Instructor, and Mrs. Marita Howard as part-time Licensed Practical Nursing Instructor, both effective Sept. 1,1969. Additional part-time instructors who were approved for employment were Mr. Russell Sutton, a teacher New Bern Senior High, and Mr. W. J. “Bill” Edwards, the Executive Director of the Redevelopment Commission of New Bern. Mr. Tommie Phelps’ resignation as drafting instructor was accepted and Mr. Jerry Prescott was employed at his replacement.
On Nov. 12,1969, a ground-breaking ceremony on the College’s new campus on Racetrack Road. The ceremony was held in a small parking lot in front of Building “B” and it was a cool, rainy day. With construction already in process, plus the rain, it was not easy to drive on campus at this time but we made it a successful event. The speaker for this occasion was the late Honorable R.C. Godwin, Representative to the North Carolina General Assembly from Craven County.
Fall quarter 1969 was when our first cosmetology class began in the rental facilities on Trent Boulevard in New Bern. There were 40 students in the first class, and the program continues there in the same location 20 years later. On Nov. 16, 1969, a dedication ceremony was held at the Cosmetology Building. The program planned and carried out by the students and their instructors, Mrs. Blanche Kendrick and Mrs. Sultana Hodges. Mrs. Evelyn Haire, a member of the Board of Trustees, and Patricia Hunter, past President of the Cosmetology Guild, did the honor of cutting the ribbon. It was a Sunday afternoon and an open house followed the ribbon cutting ceremony.
On April 14, 1970, the Board of Trustees approved the contract agreement with East Carolina University to offer college transfer programs at Craven Institute. In this agreement Craven Technical Institute was to pay ECU $350 per quarter hour of instruction if we used their instructors and $75 per quarter hour if we used our own instructors. It was an expensive program, but it was an opportunity to meet a local need until the Technical Institute could add its own college transfer program.
The program was to begin in the fall quarter of 1970. Classes for this program was held in the educational building of the First Baptist Church on Middle Street in downtown New Bern. The church was very cooperative and supportive of our program and did not charge us for use of their Sunday School rooms. The late Mr. Stainback was most helpful to me in working with the church and I will always be grateful to him and will never and will never forget his cooperation and support.
Mr. John Peterson, architect, reported to the Board on April 14 that the new buildings were at the 30 percent completion stage and that construction was on schedule.
Fiscal year 1969-70 was a busy year. Our new campus was under construction, and we continued operating at 219-223 Tryon Palace Drive (Harvey House Restaurant) and the Leona Tolson at Croatan.
The fall of 1969, I began working on my doctorate degree at North Carolina State University by commuting to Raleigh for afternoon and evening classes. Dr. Harry Lassiter was working on his Master’s degree at Arizona State University in Flagstaff. Kim Smith was an infant living in Washington, N.C. and drafting student Tammy Fuller was five years old. Mrs. Elisabeth Barker was in ninth grade at First Baptist High School in Charleston, S.C. Mr. Clifford Swain was teaching seventh grade at Central Elementary School in New Bern.
Although our temporary facilities were less than ideal, the faculty and staff were looking forward to moving to the new campus, except for cosmetology, which still remains at its original location on Trent Boulevard in New Bern. We also had a new name created by dropping the word ‘county,’ so that we were known as Craven Technical Institute effective April 14,1970.