Opportunity Center holds grand opening

J. Marvin Jolly Classroom Building dedicated

Dr. Charles Whitaker retires from MWP

Hazard Herald
September 3, 2003

Opportunity Center holds grand opening

The dedication of the Knott County Opportunity Center demonstrated that many groups of people worked together cooperatively to bring about a state-of-the-art facility for education and community resources. The dozen speakers at the event all had a common message-this center became a reality because of people having a dream and working together. The Aug. 27 ceremony culminated following a six-year project.

The 31,144 square foot facility houses the Knott County Branch of Hazard Community and Technical College with classrooms and offices, the Knott County Public Library, LKLP Headstart Daycare, Knott Adult Education Programs, MSU and CenterNet Distance Learning Classrooms, Knott Fiscal Court Community Development offices.

HCTC President Jay K. Box praised the partners who spoke at the program: Janice Jarrell, Hindman mayor; Debbie Moore, representing Donnie Newsome, Knott Judge-Executive; State Representative Ancel Smith; Hindman Settlement School Executive Director Mike Mullins; Roger Martin, representing Harold Combs, Knott County school superintendent; Geneva Smith, Knott County Public Library Board; Jim Nelson, state director, Kentucky Department of Libraries; Aleece Jones, director of the LKLP Community Action Council Headstart; Jeff Hawkins, executive director of the Kentucky Valley Eduation Co-op; Dr. Ronald G. Eaglin, Morehead State Univrsity president; and Candace Gosnell, vice president, representing Dr. Michael B. McCall, president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.

Those recognized for their contributions included Gov. Paul Patton; former Senator Benny Ray Bailey; Gateway Community and Technical College president G. Edward Hughes; University Center of the Mountains interim director Ron Daley; Lonnie Lawson, executive director of the Rural Development Center in Somerset; Kentucky Appalachian Commission Ewell Baltrip; community leader Bill Weinberg; State Senator Johnny Ray Turner; Ron Johnson of R.M. Johnson Engineering; Kentucky School of Craft Dean Tim Glotzbach; Bob Hammonds, assistant dean of Business at HCTC.

Several speakers praised the work of Gov. Patton and Benny Ray Bailey for being responsible for the center's funding. "We cannot thank Senator Bailey enough for what he accomplished in this and other educational projects in the region," Dr. Box said.

The Knott County Opportunity Center is the key element and project in the Knott-Hindman Community Development Initiative (CDI) plan. The plan was to build on a strong education, culture, craft, political and literary heritage in the county.

The Hindman Settlement School donated the property for the Opportunity Center. The former library, torn down for this project, was on land owned by the Settlement School.

The facility houses the Opportunity Channel, an educational channel, managed by the College as well as a 225-seat conference room.

The funding sources include: two Appalachian Regional Commission grants ($713,000 and $500,000); $2 million in coal severance tax funds; $1.25 million in state surplus funds; $750,000, Knott Public Library state surplus funds; $300,000 CDBG funds; $275,000Headstart funds; $150,000 MSU Distance Learning Classroom; and $100,000 CenterNet distance Learning Classroom.

Hazard Herald
September 3, 2003

J. Marvin Jolly Classroom Building dedicated

In what was a very touching ceremony, the J. Marvin Jolly Classroom Center was dedicated at Hazard Community and Technical College in front of a standing-room only crowd of former co-workers, friends, family, community leaders and residents, as well as college employees. They all came to see the unveiling of a new name for an existing building which once housed the office in which Dr. Jolly worked when he was president of the college from 1968 to 1985.

HCTC President Dr. Jay K. Box emceed the program which involved several speakers, including Dr. Jolly's son, James M. Jolly Jr., who told a heartfelt story of how his family moved to Hazard.

But prior to the son's address, Bill Engle III, chair of the Board of Directors, praised Dr. Jolly's work. Engle was on the board of directors during Dr. Jolly's years at the school. "I look at the campus here, the Hazard Campus, the Technical Campus, the Lees College Campus in Jackson, Knott County Branch, and Leslie County Center, and all of the staff, I'm extremely proud of what we have here and the contributions this institution makes to our students and the communities," Engle said. "There are a lot of people who deserve credit. There's only one person who brought a piece of paper and brought it to reality, and that's Marvin Jolly." Engle noted that Dr. Jolly came here from Alabama, and when he retired, he stayed here, and he has made a contribution. "Dr. Jolly, thanks," he said.

When James Jolly stepped to the podium, he told the crowd "My father provided a sound foundation for this college and he's very deserving of this award."

James Jolly told how 35 years ago his six-year-old sister Jennifer suffered from leukemia. "I want to honor Jennifer and say how proud she would be of her Dad."

In June of 1966, Ellis Hartford offered Dr. Jolly the job in Hazard, in fact he was offered the job twice. Jennifer relapsed the next day and died the following Sunday.

"The reasons for not coming to Hazard died with Jennifer," James Jolly told the crowd in an emotional moment. "A new chapter in our lives was born."

"Living in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky was a great choice for the Jolly family." The college provided him and his wife both a great education, where they obtained their associate degrees.

"There was plenty of hard work for the president's wife as well. My father would agree that even though it's his name on the building, part of this honor belongs to Mrs. Jolly too."

"My father is a fair and honest person and there is no doubt where he stands on any issue. Just ask him. I feel his strong leadership and ability to communicate with students and faculty made him an excellent choice as the first president."

"My Dad worked very hard to make education available to the people of Eastern Kentucky. He doesn't like being in the limelight but I'm sure he feels very good for a pat on the back for a job well done."

The college's first Coordinator of Student Personnel Services, Ann Hurt, returned to Hazard to tell of the early days when Dr. Jolly started the college with no building and no staff. "He hired a business manager, a counselor, arranged for a temporary facility, and hired the faculty, and two months later, Hazard Community College opened with its first class, on time and on budget." It was all possible because of Dr. Jolly's leadership.

"The real story is how we got to where it is today," Mrs. Hurt said. "It was Dr. Jolly's vision and leadership to make that vision a reality. Dr. Jolly supervised the construction of the building. He hired the best and brightest and he demanded excellence in teaching and scholarship. This school has become the school Dr. Jolly envisioned in 1968.

Dr. Keith Bird, chancellor, on behalf of Dr. McCall and KCTCS Board of Regents, which approved the naming. "It's important to look at our past and see how far we've come." He called Dr. Jolly a pioneer. "You are part of a select few that brought us here."

Dr. Bird called being a president a 24/7, 365 days a year job. "I give you my professional and personal recognition," Dr. Bird said.

Then Dr. Jolly stepped to the podium. "Thank you, Dr. Box, and all the people who had a part of this decision."

"When we came in 1968, there was a swell of support. In fact, in Leslie County, the kids would take their break money and donate it for a college in Hazard. People, that touches your heart strings. That kind of support made it easier to start things," Dr. Jolly said.

"When Dr. Box and Vice President Julia Mitchell came to our house to tell us of the award, we were in a daze. Outside of my family structure, I have never been so honored. Thank you."

Dr. Jolly thanked the community for welcoming them and he praised his wife who worked with others in the community to provide food for college functions.

Dr. Box then presented Mrs. Jolly with flowers. "We honored the contributions of a man who has dedicated his life to education and now it is only fitting to honor one other person, Joyce Jolly," Dr. Box said.

"Joyce Jolly was the unpaid servant for the college. By welcoming prospective faculty members into her home, even providing lodging for those who were visitors to our town, we thank you.

We thank you for the countless receptions and meals you arranged.

"Because of the strong partnership between this man and wife, the college was able to prosper. Mrs. Jolly, your strength contributed to Dr. Jolly's ability to be stronger.

"You are our unsung hero. You've been the sounding board, the cheerleader, and the supporter. We deeply appreciate you Joyce Jolly. We present you with these flowers as a token of our thanks," Dr. Box said.

Members of the Student Leadership Institute said they were glad to be part of the event because it was so meaningful. "It was a very special ceremony and I enjoyed hearing the history of the school," noted Helen Brunty, who works at the college.

The Jolly Center houses the President's suite, Business Office, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, the Bruce and Virginia Jo Stephens Library, classrooms and laboratories, auditorium, as well as faculty and staff offices.

Dr. Jolly was hired following a nationwide search at age 39, after he had worked in high school administration and taught on the college level. Prior to that, he had been drafted and fought in Korea. After returning home, he finished his college degrees.

He was hired by the late Ellis Hartford, the first dean of the University of Kentucky Community College System who served under then UK President John Oswald. The late former Governor Bert T. Combs, Dr. Oswald and Dr. Hartford had the vision for the community college that would change Kentucky because education would be made accessible to folks throughout the state.

The growth of the college since 1968 is evident in many ways. Dr. Jolly said he started with 14 professional staff (including ten faculty members), three secretaries and two maintenance workers on the payroll. Now there are 305 employees with the added locations of the Technical Campus, Lees College Campus in Jackson, Knott County Branch in Hindman, the Leslie County Center in Hyden as well as the Kentucky School of Craft, Kentucky Appalachian Artisan Center and the Challenger Learning Center of Kentucky.

Dr. Jolly was born in Warrior, Alabama where he graduated from high school. His bachelor's degree in history and education is from Florence State College in Alabama; his master's degree in school administration is from George Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn. in 1955; his doctorate degree is from Colorado State College in Greeley in 1960. While at Colorado State he held a fellowship with the Educational Planning Service.

Troublesome Creek Times
September 3, 2003

Dr. Charles Whitaker retires from MWP

"I've always said 'I'm not a writer' but after being part of the Mountain Writing Project under the direction of Dr. Charles Whitaker, now I'm ready to teach writing," said Sherry Caudill of Osborne Elementary in Floyd County.

Those words were expressed in admiration of Dr. Charles Whitaker during his farewell and retirement party which honored his work in teaching teachers to help students with their own writing, starting with elementary school through college.

"He always teaches in a positive way," noted Bonnie Lively of Rousseau Elementary in Breathitt County. "Yes, and he does it without being intimidating in any way," chimed in Danita Nickels of the same school.

Ms. Lively said she, like others, didn't consider herself a writer, until she enrolled in the Mountain Writing Project which provides materials that she can take back to the classroom.

A large group of present and past Mountain Writing Project teachers came together to roast a man they obviously admired, appreciated, and will sorely miss. Dr. Whitaker, whom they called "Doc," believed in this project and dedicated himself to making it work, noted Lisa Maggard of Hazard Community and Technical College. As Sondra Johnson of Jenkins Middle School in Letcher County told the crowd, with a tear in her eye, "Doc believed in me and he made me believe in myself."

Dr. Whitaker is a full professor at Eastern Kentucky University who helped start the project seven years ago in his hometown of Hazard, in association with Hazard Community and Technical College. He obtained funding from the state and the National Writing Project Corporation to bring the project to the region, just as he has worked to hold similar seminars in Northern and Western Kentucky since 1986.

"Writing helps make us human. It helps us identify with who we are," Dr. Whitaker said, noting that "Teachers are one of the most important resources of our society."

Dr. Whitaker's future, at age 58, will not include full retirement. He will continue teaching for EKU on a part time basis and continue his consulting work and providing seminars on teaching writing.

Succeeding Dr. Whitaker will be Lisa Maggard, whom he called "a pioneer and a mainstay" with the project through Hazard Community and Technical College. Lisa Maggard will work with Dr. Sally Martin from Eastern Kentucky University and a staff of co-directors, all of whom are graduates of the Mountain Writing Project. Maggard noted, "I couldn't even begin to replace Dr. Whitaker. The breadth of his skills, knowledge, and reputation is legendary. However, with the assistance of a superb core of teachers trained by Dr. Whitaker, I might be able to help keep the Mountain Writing Project going." Teachers involved are selected from a pool of applicants and receive six credit hours in addition to a stipend.