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 1970s
A
M O D E L F O R T H E N A T I O N E M E R G E S
engineer—before taking the helm of a tech center. One presi-
dent, however, set out to be a leader from the start. One man
made it his life’s mission to support South Carolina’s education
and workforce needs. Barry Russell attended Clemson in the late
1960s and early 1970s. The technical training system’s potential
to help the state captivated him. He sensed it would improve
South Carolinians’ lives. He decided as an undergraduate that
that was what he wanted to do.
“It was my life’s calling. I chose my master’s degree program
with the system in mind. Every research paper I wrote was about
the technical college system in South Carolina.”
Russell’s first job in the system was at Piedmont Technical
College as an admissions counselor/field representative. “I drove
through the seven counties Piedmont serves telling high school
students about training’s benefits. I remember many days driv-
ing through the hinterlands of Saluda and Newberry Counties
thinking, ‘I cannot believe that they pay me to do this; I am hav-
ing so much fun.’”
1977 1978
1977:
TEC offered seven major occupational/technical
education areas. More than 23 states and 20 countries viewed
South Carolina’s technical education as a model for meeting
occupational training and educational needs.
1978:
Associate degrees and diplomas were offered in
approximately 150 career areas statewide.
