Tom E. Smith of Salisbury, who has served for the past 11 years as chairman of the Catawba College Board of Trustees, turned the reins over to Paul Fisher of Salisbury at the board’s semi-annual meeting held Oct. 20-21 at the college.
In recognition of Smith’s many contributions to Catawba, administrators announced the new patio off the Hurley and Whitener Rooms in the Cannon Student Center would be named in honor of Smith and his wife, Martha. Catawba President Dr. Craig Turner made that announcement after Smith turned over the gavel to Paul Fisher.
The patio dedication plaque reads:
“The Tom E. and Martha H. Smith Patio
Named in honor of Catawba College Alumnus and Trustee Tom E. Smith and his wife, Martha H., of Salisbury, N.C. Tom, a 1964 Catawba graduate, is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Food Lion, Inc. He served as Chairman of the Catawba College Board of Trustees from 1997 to 2008, collaborating with three presidents to chart a steady course and strategic goals for the institution.
October 20, 2008”
As Smith made his final remarks as board chairman, he invited trustees to look back on the accomplishments made at Catawba over the past 11 years. These included:
– Bidding farewell to two college president, Drs. Fred Corriher and Bob Knott, and searching for and welcoming the institution’s 21st president, Dr. Craig Turner, one of 156 candidates for the position;
– Successful completion in 2002 of a five-year $59.6 million capital campaign;
– Successful completion in 2008 of a $35 million endowment campaign;
– Successful completion in 2007 of facilities campaign to raise $10.4 million to couple with a bond issue which allowed construction of the five new residence halls of Abernethy Village, renovation of the Corriher-Linn-Black Library and the Cannon Student Center, and an addition to the Student Center;
– Installation of a geothermal heating and cooling system on campus and subsequent air-conditioning of all residence halls on campus;
– Installation of air-conditioning in the Omwake-Dearborn Chapel;
– Installation of Internet access in all buildings on campus and wireless Internet connectivity over most of the campus;
– Construction of a new Shuford Stadium and Kirkland Field and lights for that facility;
– Construction of the Hayes Field House;
– Catawba’s successful appeal of NCAA sanction against the college for use of a Native American nickname and related symbolism;
– Construction of Catawba’s Center for the Environment, thanks to the largest gift in the institution’s history given by the late Mrs. Elizabeth Stanback and her family;
– Creation of several Centers on campus including the Lilly Center for Vocation and Values, the Glenn and Addie Ketner Center for International Studies, and the Shirley Peeler Ritchie Academy for Teaching;
– Celebration of Catawba’s sesquicentennial anniversary in 2001;
– Graduation of 2707 students (between 1997 and 2008) with degrees earned in either Catawba’s day or evening programs;
– And the addition of 28 new trustees to the Board and the loss of some trustees including Adrian Shuford, Enoch Goodman, Bob Keppel, Katharine Osborne, Theodore Leonard, Roger Lofland and Clifford Peeler.