1982-1986

Dr. Eddie Smith I inaugurated

Dr. Eddie M. Smith, was inaugurated as the sixth president of East Central Junior College in ceremonies held last Wednesday at the Decature campus. Winston County Trustee and Board of Trustees President Henry (Bubba) Hudspeth executed the investiture. ECJC is 57 years old. It opened it. doors to a freshman class of 20 in September 1928after the legislature adopted the first laws for the organization and operation of the Mississippi public junior colleges. At its begi - yLthe college oc- - -

cupied buildings that were a part o the Newton County Agricultura High School which had bee] organized in 1914. The Agricultura High School was located on propert: belonging to the Decatur Municipa School District. The upper higl school grades which comprised thl Newton County Agricultural Higl School continued to be a part of thl college until 1958 when they joinec the Decatur Attendance Center. In March 1939, ECJC became r member of the SouthernAssociatioi of Colleges and Secondary Schools (See SMITH, P3A)

mssissipp. Dr. Smith is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Mal. E. Smith of Winston County. He is married to the former Charlotte Flowers of Natchez; they have two children - Kelli, a senior at MSU, and Wendy, a freshman a t ECJC. Other Winston County trustees at the inauguration were: Mrs. R.E. Clark, Jerry Nance, Leo Parker, Roy Roberts and Thomas W. Saterfiel.

It now holds membership in the American Association of Com- munity and Junior Colleges, the SouthernAssociationof C!deges and Schools, the Mississippi College Association and the Mississippi Junior College Association. In the beginning there was only one curriculum - liberal arb. Since that time the course offerings, the physical facilities, and the extra- curricula activities of the school have been increasing. The programs offered at this time exceed 35 and include vocational-technical education. The original three buildings have been supplemented vith more than 30 major buildings. Originally the institution was supported by three counties - Newton, Neshoba, and Scott. Later they were joined by Leake and Winston. To supplement the original plant, Newton County provided $90,000 in 1930. During 193557, $110,000 was spent on facilities, and Newton County provided $44,000 of this amount. Over $5 million provided by the state and the five supporting counties has been spent In the plant since 1948-47. When the school opened in 1928the aculty was made up of two mem- Ers - Mrs. W.W. Newsone and - ' ~t 2 - ' '1. T0da.y the faculty -

Presidents who have served the collegesinceits openingare: Roscoe C. Pugh, 1928-1934;Lindsey 0. Todd, 1934-1953; W. Arne Vincent, 1953- 1962; Douglas M. Montgomery, 1962- 1966; and Charles V. Wright, 1966 1985. Dr. Smith assumed the office of the presidency last July. Prior to corning to ECJC Dr. Smith had been an administrator at Copiah-Lincoln Junior college. He graduated from Noxapater High School and received the associate in arts degree from ECJC. He thus become the second alumnus of the college to serve as president - W. Arno Vincent was the first. Dr. Smith received the bachelor of science and master of education degrees from Mississippi State University, and the doctor of education degree in higher education from the University of Southern hJississippi. He is a: member of Phi Theta Kappa, Sigma Tau Sigma and Phi Delta Kappa. He was named Young Man of the Year and Outstanding *Young Educator by the Natchez Jaycees. He has been named an OutstandingYoungMan of America, an Outstanding Educator in Amerian Colleges and Universities, and OutstandingBiology Teacher in

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