Laurinburg Director of Community Development Bill Reimer, right, received a plaque from the City of Laurinburg and Richmond Community College for his tireless dedication to demolishing the old hospital on McLean Street and working with the college to construct a new educational center. The award was made by Mayor Matthew Block during the building dedication.
RCC President Dr. Dale McInnis welcomed the group to the new center, which stands on the lot of the old hospital.
McInnis said the building was designed to meet the needs of the future.
The room where the ceremony took place is available to any business or industry needing training space.
“We will adapt and evolve to meet the needs of the community. The question will always be, ‘What comes next?’ We are already beginning those discussions. We believe the demand and need is there. We are preparing to continue and strengthen this partnership,” Mcinnis said.
Laurinburg Mayor Matthew Block said transforming a crumbling eyesore into a new center will have a big impact on the residents of Scotland County.
"This is a facility our people need and can now come to for skills and expertise that will benefit the entire community,” Block said.
He applauded RCC President Emeritus Dr. Diane Honeycutt, former Laurinburg Mayor Ann Slaughter, and the city council at the time for their vision and insight.
The mayor also presented a plaque of appreciation from the RCC and the city of Laurinburg to Laurinburg Director of Community Development Bill Reimer for his tireless work over 20 years to get the building demolished and for another six years in working to raise funds for construction.
Sen. Bill Purcell and Reps. Doug Yongue and Garland Pierce were key players in obtaining funding for the center and had words of praise for Honeycutt.
“She is a servant leader,” said Purcell. “Her dedication and wisdom of leadership helped make RCC the great college it is today. She never forgot RCC’s obligation to serving the citizens of Scotland County. This building will be a reminder of that service and dedication.”
Yongue said for him, the site was “sacred ground” because he camped there as a child when there was nothing but woods and dense brush. He added his children were born there and his parents passed away there.
“If there was anybody I wished could be here today, it would be Governor Terry Sanford. He was a pioneer in the concept of community colleges in our country. He would be proud of this facility and would let people know about it,” said Yongue.
Pierce said celebrating education meant looking at the past, present, and future.
“It is good to know we are leaving a legacy that will last long after we are gone. It is wonderful to see what hard work and dedication can achieve,” said Pierce.
GoldenLEAF Foundation President Dan Gerlach said the $1.2 million grant from the foundation was the first of its kind for construction.
“When people ask about applying for funds and want to know how to get it right, I tell them to look to Scotland County and its focus on economic development. Because of your belief in your community, we knew an investment here was the way to go,” he said.
Scotland County Commissioner and RCC Trustee Joyce McDow agreed the project was a long time coming, but worth the wait. She, too, wished Sanford could be there.
“Terry Sanford was a Scotland County native. He placed education high on the list of important things to develop. He said you had to place education high on the list so you would be able to reach the other goals. I look forward to a long, health relationship between the county and RCC,” she said.
Honeycutt, whose tenure at RCC spanned 34 years, said she jumped on the opportunity to work on the building when Reimer approached her in 2004. She recounted the numerous hurdles that were overcome to make today possible.
“Of everything I have done, this is something I’m very proud of. It was the most exciting, most important, most significant, and most fun of any project I’ve encountered. For Scotland County citizens to be able to go to class in their own county and for people to not have to drive to RCC for industrial training is a good thing. This has been one of the best professional experiences of my life,” she said.
Slaughter laughed as she said her part in the process was being an irritant. She said people were tired of her pushing the issue of the dilapidated building, so they did something about it.
“People aren’t interested in destroying something, but they are interested in building something. Getting RCC involved gave people something they could get behind and use to build something better. It was a great pleasure to be involved,” she said.
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