RCC Board of Trustees Present Distinguished Service Award

Randolph Community College Board of Trustees
Chair Jim Campbell (left) presents the
2007 Distinguished Service Award
posthumously honoring
Charles W. McCrary Sr. to
Charles McCrary Jr. and his wife, Susan.

Charles W. McCrary Sr., who has been called "the father of Randolph Community College," was honored posthumously as the recipient of the 2007 Board of Trustees Distinguished Service Award at the Board’s regular meeting on Sept. 20. Accepting on his behalf were Charles W. McCrary Jr. and his wife, Susan.

Board of Trustees Chair Jim Campbell said that in a special edition of The Courier-Tribune in 1988 celebrating RCC's 25th Anniversary, former Asheboro mayor Robert Reese commented that if it hadn't been for Charles W. McCrary Sr., there would not have been a technical school in Randolph County. "Mr. McCrary was the guiding force that led others, especially the state leaders in Raleigh, to see the need for Industrial Education Centers in North Carolina," said Campbell.

In 1957 McCrary Sr., as a member of the North Carolina State Board of Education, paved the way for Randolph County to be selected as a site for one of the early Industrial Education Centers. He worked closely with Dallas Herring and Wade Martin in Raleigh to see the Industrial Education Centers established that eventually evolved into the 58 community colleges we have today.

"Therefore, Randolph County's own Charles W. McCrary Sr. is also considered one of the 'Fathers of the North Carolina Community College System' and 'the Father of Randolph Community College,'" said Campbell.

Charles W. McCrary Sr., a native of Randolph County, was the son of Acme-McCrary Hosiery Mill's founder, D. B. McCrary. McCrary was a service-oriented individual and held many prestigious positions, such as chairman of the board of Acme-McCrary Corporation, chairman of the board of Marlowe Manufacturing Company of Florence, S.C., vice president of Sapona Manufacturing Company, chairman of the Asheboro Board of Wachovia Bank and Trust Company, chairman of the National Association of Hosiery Manufacturers, president of Asheboro Public Library, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and president of the Asheboro Rotary Club.

McCrary served on the City Board of Education from 1936-1956 and was chairman from 1941-1956 until he was appointed by Governor Luther Hodges as a member of the State Board of Education, on which he served until 1965. He and his father helped to establish Randolph Hospital and was president of the board from 1946-1976 and also held the position of vice president of the board until his death in 1984.

Campbell noted that it was appropriate for the Board of Trustees to honor McCrary during the College's 45th anniversary year.

Also present for the award ceremony were McCrary Sr.'s granddaughter Suzanne McCrary, his grandson Walker and his wife, Shannon, and their children, Samantha and Charles.

The Randolph Community College Board of Trustees Distinguished Service Award was established in 2002. The nomination criteria state that an award recipient must be an individual, group, or organization that has made a long-term, consistent commitment that is extraordinary and has had visible positive impact on the mission of Randolph Community College.