University of North Carolina at Asheville
D. Hiden Ramsey Library
Special Collections/University Archives

Oral History Register
for

Harvey Haynes

OH-VOA H39 Ha

Voices of Asheville Oral History Collection
D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNCA

Title

Creator

Dorothy Joynes for Voices of Asheville Oral History Collection

Subject

LCSH:
Haynes, Harvey
Asheville (N.C.) -- History
Education, Higher -- North Carolina -- Buncombe County
Community colleges -- North Carolina -- Buncombe County

Subject

Description

Abstract: Haynes discusses his involvement with the founding of A-B Tech, where he became Dean of Instruction and later President.  He describes his experience starting another community college in Greenville, SC.  He outlines the development of A-B Tech, discussing changes in its curriculum and its relation to four-year universities. He describes his concerns over problems that he sees in the community, and talks about changes that he has seen over the years.

Publisher

D. H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville, NC, 28804

Contributor

Date

Electronic Record Issued: 2002-05-02

Type

Sound ; Text ; Image

Format

Physical Description: 6-page abstract ; 1 90-minute audiocassette and 1 copy ; 1 color photograph ; newspaper articles and brochures

Identifier

Source

OH-VOA H39 Ha

Language

English

Relation

References: none

Coverage

Acquisition

Donor number: 146 ;  Date of acquisition: 1998

Processed By

Dorothy Joynes, Ruth Beard and staff

Interview Date

Interview Location

Biography

List of names

Side 1:

[1/1]  Part of the property for A-B Tech was purchased from the nuns (see tapes Potts, Winters, Bingham, McDowell, Camblos). [Mother Potts]

[1/9]  After graduating from college and serving in the military he had a choice of either teaching or working at Enka.  He did both, teaching for 5 years with General Electric.

[1/20]  In 1955 the governor stated that if NC wanted to amount to anything people would have to be trained. [Governor Luther Hodges]

[1/27]  On the 8th floor of the city building one and a half rooms were set aside for training in 1961.  Dr. Zerfoss resigned before the program started and Simpson was in charge. [Lester Zerfoss, Thomas W. Simpson, Jane Smith, Floyd Garrison]

[1/31]  At first high school students were mixed with adults when the group moved to the present campus in 2 little buildings in 1961.  There were 140 students who were bussed in.  The community college bill was passed in 1963, the school became a technical institute and the high-school students were dropped. [Governor Sanford, Governor Fritz Hollins]

[1/38]  He was asked to open the first technical education center in Greenville, S.C. (now the 3rd largest community college in the world) and returned to Asheville in 1963 to become Dean of Instruction.  On the death of Simpson in 1975 he became president of the college. [Thomas Simpson]

[1/46]  The curriculum was designed to attract new industries to the area (see attached) and in a 18 year period 72 new industries settled here.  Metal working, because of higher pay and non-polluting, was especially desired.

[1/61]  In 1970 a nursing program was started followed by dental hygiene, radiology and medical laboratory technician.

[1/73]  Business programs are the largest area offered.  Hotel/motel management and culinary science followed (see George Coggins tapes).

[1/88]  Between 1961-1968 the school was not related to four-year institutions.  Now, however, several different kinds of degrees are given and the advanced ones are transferable (see enclosure).

[1/143]  There is a "new industry training" building where students can learn trade for industry about to open here.

[1/170]  The average student age is 27 ½, there are day and evening courses with child care that is classified as Head Start.  He tells of a woman whose child is bussed to a day school while she is training.  She is an example of what can happen and was a guest at the White House. [Barbara Bush]

[1/227]  In 1961 only one out of every 100 students graduated from high school - now over 80 finish.

[1/239]  He is put out with the criticism of education in this state and discusses the various systems as they compare to ours - Japan and England.  We give students the right to fail but start over.

[1/291]  He was brought up in the "food and shoes" era (Depression) where one trained for one job and continued in that field for life.  People today often redirect their energies i.e. a bank teller might want to be a nurse.

[1/351]  The State Conservation and Development organization, through its direction, interviews anyone wanting to come into the state.

[1/402]  He discusses the cut vs. the tunnel (natives wanted the cut - new comers wanted the tunnel), and feels the county residents not sufficiently involved in decisions - Pack Place, location of Civic Center.  The county people don't fear taxes but "fear being annexed by a tired, worn-out old city that can't afford what it's already got and yet reaching out for more."  The county school system is equal to anything in the city.

[1/463]  A-B Tech started with 2 buildings and 2 on staff.  Now 914 working here - they are not affected by uptown politics.

[1/502]  Over the years a number of programs have been started to train people displaced or underemployed.  They "take people out of the main stream of life and give them self-esteem and teach them what to do to get a job and hold it."

[1/543]  The Smith-McDowell house and Fernihurst are discussed. The museum, which did not lend itself to a school, is rented for $1.00 a year to the Western North Carolina Historical Society.  Fernihurst is used as a manpower establishment (under the Department of Labor).

Side 2:

[2/1]  (Electrical surges)

State, local and Federal funds went in to the development of A-B Tech.  There are now 150 acres.

[2/57]  The community colleges in NC are responsible for prison educations.  At one time prisoners were bussed to campus, now instructors go to the prison.

[2/77]  It takes more than the Chamber of Commerce to bring industries into an area.  FANTUS - a locating service operating out of N.Y., Chicago and California gathers material regarding an area (water, sewers, schools, city government) and supplies this to industries wishing to locate.

[2/152]  He is disappointed that Buncombe county has not set up a fund for economic development department. [Lou Bissette]

[2/161]  Quality is what is needed.  When you stop growing you die.  The young people deserve a chance to work.  There have been changes during the past 30 years but Asheville is behind Charlotte, Greenville and Durham in terms of opportunity.  It's a shame because Asheville is a cross-roads and a beautiful place to live.

[2/184]  Loss of passenger trains hurt the city.  The airlines are adequate.  There was a controversy with Henderson County as to who would pay for the airport.  The bond referendum was turned down by the county so the city picked up the charges and expanded it several times.

[2/209]  A division called "compensatory education" was set up to train physically and mentally handicapped.  It started with 10 people and is up to 40 now.  A special staff is needed for this.  If the school cannot serve these people they are sent to Morganton state mental hospital.

[2/270]  The college has always been desegregated.  The first advisory board was integrated. [Joe Belk]

[2/293]  The most exciting achievement is in landing a major industry.  "You know you are creating jobs."

[2/314]  It is important to keep a balance in courses offered.  Liberal arts are important but they don't earn a living and the technical classes can't be looked on as second rate.

[2/323]  A-B Tech's relation with other colleges and universities is reviewed.

[2/350]  He has retired but is working at Western North Carolina.  His children are grown. [Keith Haynes, Scott Haynes, Donna Haynes]

[2/383]  Nurse practitioners, a field started about 15 years ago, allows nurses with additional training to, on passing the medical board, open their own business and, under a doctor's direction, write prescriptions. [Bill Clinton]

Thanks.

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