VGCC Honors John K. Nelms At Reception, Names Him First ‘Trustee Emeritus’
After more than 30 years service on the Board of Trustees of Vance-Granville Community College, John King Nelms of Oxford stepped down in January to spend more time on family concerns.
On June 8, friends, family, fellow trustees and employees of Vance-Granville gathered to honor Nelms for his service to the college. The highlight of
the event was the presentation of a resolution naming Nelms as the first-ever Trustee Emeritus of Vance-Granville.
After a welcome by President Randy Parker, several speakers praised Nelms and remembered his accomplishments.
Dr. Ben F. Currin, who served as president of VGCC from 1981 to 1998, said he remembered John Nelms
| TRUSTEE HONORED – Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees Chair Donald C. Seifert Sr., right, presents a resolution to former board member John K. Nelms, naming him the first Trustee Emeritus of the college. VGCC President Randy Parker applauds in the background. |
“I particularly remember your devotion to Vance-Granville, and you set the example for trustees,” Dr. Currin said. “This community owes you a debt of gratitude for your service.”
L. Opie Frazier Jr., a member of the VGCC Board of Trustees and a former chairman, said, “It will be hard to imagine attending a board meeting without John Nelms there.”
Frazier related how the Vance-Granville (then Vance Technical Institute) campus was originally scheduled to be built in northern Vance County, but through Nelms’ efforts it was located on its current 80-acre site near the Granville County line to better serve both Vance and Granville counties.
Henrietta H. Clark, board secretary, recalled how she felt uneasy when she joined the board in 1993 as the only Afro-American woman. “But when Mr. Nelms welcomed me warmly with open arms, all my fears went away,” she said. ” This board will miss your wisdom and guiding hand.”
Board Chair Donald C. Seifert Sr. presented the Trustee Emeritus to Nelms on behalf of the board. It cites how Nelms began his association with the board in 1971, was appointed as Granville County’s liaison to the board in February 1973 and became a board member in December 1973. “Your resignation in January of this year ended a remarkable term of uninterrupted service,” Seifert said.
In his remarks, Nelms noted that he had served with every president that Vance-Granville Community College has had. “I have been fortunate to serve in numerous capacities over the years,” said the former economic development director of Granville County. “But I can say without hesitation that my service on the Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees was the highlight of my career.”
