S C T E CHN I CA L CO L L E G E S Y S T EM ’ S
F I R S T 5 0 Y EAR S
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The 1960s
M O B I L I Z I N G A G R E A T R E S O U R C E
elect Wade Martin executive director,” said Smith. Martin served
as executive director of the tech training system from 1961 to
1970.
A. Wade Martin, a man described as a genius, deserves more
than a passing note. Hollings, referring to the system’s early suc-
cess said, “Let me tell you the real secret. Stan Smith headed it
up and did a magnificent job, but the best break I got was Wade
Martin. Even now I can see Martin with his spreadsheets outlin-
ing the hours of training. Martin would promise companies: ‘In
so many days you’ll be up and operating in the black.’”
Hollings had studied the North Carolina system, and he re-
cruited Walter Harper, a brilliant development man. Harper led
him toWade Martin. Hollings had an opportunist’s eye for talent,
and North Carolina Governor Luther Hodges had a penchant for
trips. An advocate of increasing trade with Russia, Hodges went
to the land of the hammer, sickle, and red star often and when he
was away, Hollings sprang into action.
“I stole three North Carolina State graduates. One was Wal-
ter Harper, who designed the Research Triangle,” said Hollings.
“I got Jerry Albright from Southern Pines to head up Tourism.”
The coup d’état was getting A. Wade Martin to head up technical
training. The purloined talent did not sit well with Hodges.
“He returned from Russia,” said Hollings, “and called me up
and said, ‘Damn it, you’ve taken Jerry Albright. You’ve taken
Walter Harper. You’ve taken Wade Martin. You’ve taken every-
body from me.’”
Hollings retorted, “Take one more trip to Russia, Governor,
and I’ll move Mrs. Hodges down here.”
Years later Dr. Barry Russell served as the president at South-
western Community College in Sylva, North Carolina and while
there he talked with North Carolina’s state board chair Dr. Dallas
Herring. Knowing Russell came from South Carolina, Herring
said, “Well you’ve heard of Wade Martin, haven’t you?”
“Let me tell you the real secret.
Stan Smith headed it up and did
a magnificent job, but the best
break I got was Wade Martin.”
—Ernest “Fritz” Hollings
