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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8 5
The 1990s
A H I G H E R R O L E I N E D U C A T I O N
tential for transfer to a senior college. This led me to look into the
programs at Winthrop College and learn that it would be best to
transfer after one year at tech. I did this and chose a newmajor in
computer science.”
Upon completion of a degree program at Winthrop and upon
the advice of his academic advisor, Merrell applied for and was
accepted into the graduate program in Computer Science at Vir-
ginia Tech. “Unknown to me at the time, York Tech’s president,
Baxter Hood, was also headed to Virginia Tech to work on his
doctorate. As fate would have it, we wound up as neighbors in the
same apartment complex.”
Merrell had met Baxter at York Tech, and their wives knew
each other so it was easy for their families to become friends.
“Baxter always found computers to be a mystery, so he let me
help him as he worked to analyze the results of his research proj-
ect and after that, he came to trust my judgment when there was
any computer-related question.”
As Merrell finished his course work, Baxter told him about an
opening to teach computer programming at York Technical Col-
lege. “After a year as a student teaching assistant at Virginia Tech,
I had come to enjoy teaching. It seemed like a good opportunity,
and it could take my family back home. I applied for the job and
reported for work in fall of 1976.”
In 1989, Merrell became the president of York Tech. He retired
Pictured from left to right
–
Dr. Lex Walters
(president of Piedmont Technical College from 1968–2008)
, P. Henderson Barnette
(Board Chair 1983-1997)
,
and Dr. Don C. Garrison
(president of Tri-County Technical College from 1971-2003)
