Last week, our county was shocked by the news that East Central Community College president Billy Stewart tendered his retirement to the ECCC Board of Trustees during its regular meeting.
There wasn’t any scuttlebutt about the retirement on the horizon. It took nearly everyone by surprise, but after the Appeal sat down last week and talked with Dr. Stewart about his retirement, it was a surprise to nearly everyone, including himself.
Dr. Stewart has been here nearly eight years and has become the face of East Central Community College. If there was something going on a ECCC, there’s a good chance he was there. It might be a concert of the Collegians, a baseball game, a tennis match, a softball game, a lecture or an FCA regional meeting on the football field. He was going to be there.
He developed his Vision 2020 plan, and through his leadership, ECCC became “locally preferred” and “nationally recognized,” as was set out in the goals of the plan.
ECCC went through an expansion and saw a number of new facilities built over his tenure. There were new dormitories, new classrooms, a new football field playing surface, a new athletic facility that’s being finished up now, a new tennis facility and improvements to just about all areas of the campus.
While we know Dr. Stewart didn’t set out to leave a legacy, his impact will be felt for many years to come. We appreciate all the hard work and love he has shown for ECCC and Newton County.
We wish you blessings and success in your future endeavors.
