50th Anniversary Alumni Spotlight Bill Ewing - Garrett College

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Bill Ewing


Ewing recalls Garrett College's formative years

Former admissions director lauds student veterans, college leaders

Bill

Bill Ewing said he enjoyed recruiting students for Garrett College as admissions director from 1978 to 1985, noting the value Garrett College offered then as well as now. “. . . we were small enough that students got personal attention – they weren’t just numbers like they might have been at larger colleges.”

There have been many physical changes to Garrett College since Bill Ewing served as director of admissions. One change receiving Ewing's strong support is the enclosure walkways between the main campus buildings.

"During the winter of '79 there was a tremendous amount of snow – and that was before there were enclosures going between the buildings," recalled Ewing. "You would walk through the Learning Center to get to the Student Center and you'd literally go through a foot of snow. By the time you got where you were going, you were wet halfway up your pants – and stayed wet the rest of the day."

The rest of Ewing's memories of Garrett Community College – the College's name at that time – are more positive and much less physically uncomfortable.

"Those were fun times," said Ewing, who was admissions director from 1978 to 1985. "We had a lot of good teachers – I thought the quality of education our students received was outstanding. And we were small enough that students got personal attention – they weren't just numbers like they might have been at larger colleges."

Ewing, who grew up in Montgomery (MD) County, stayed west after he and his wife, Tammy, graduated from Frostburg State University in 1975. They each found teaching positions in Preston County, WV. After three years in the classroom, Ewing became GC's admissions director.

"It was an opportunity for advancement and a chance to work at a college," said Ewing, who was teaching social studies in Terra Alta at the time. "It was a vibrant, growing area and an exciting time in the College's life."

Ewing said one of his most enjoyable responsibilities was serving as veterans coordinator.

"We had a very large, fantastic GI population, and a very active veterans group," recalled Ewing. "They would spend their days working and then take classes in the evenings."

An annual career day for local high school seniors – an event he helped initiate that has evolved into an annual College Expo – is another fond memory for Ewing.

"We started that working with the guidance counselors at Northern and Southern [high schools]," said Ewing, who went on to serve 16 years as assistant principal at Southern Middle School. "It was pretty much an all-day event and we had sessions kids could sign up for.

"Everyone attended the college session and then students could pick three others topics they wanted to attend," added Ewing, whose three sons – Christopher, Ryan and Tyler – all attended Southern Garrett High. "The whole intent was to get graduating classes on campus to see the opportunities we had at the College."

Ewing, who also coached in the Garrett County Public Schools system, said attending Laker games and working with the college coaches in recruiting were other activities he enjoyed during his time at GC.

"It was always neat to work with the coaches in recruiting," said Ewing. "I also enjoyed attending as many college expos as possible – we had several statewide programs, including [natural resources and] wildlife [technology], so we recruited a pretty wide area."

Ewing said the College was fortunate to have strong leadership during some very challenging times in its early history.

"Finances were always a question – the College's very existence sometimes came into question," recalled Ewing. "We were fortunate to have strong leaders like Joan Crawford - she was just a tremendous employee, teacher, and role model.

"There were a lot of people in the early days who were so very instrumental in the College's success," added Ewing. "Dr. Jan Jansen – such a fantastic individual; retired Air Force, he came here as dean of students. He was just a very good person who spent a lot of time and effort to keep Garrett Community College vibrant.

"I would also want to mention Dr. [Lillian] Mitchell," said Ewing, referring to the iconic dean of academic and student affairs. "And [Continuing Education Dean] Lowell Bender – he was way ahead of the times in many of the programs he was implementing. There were so many great people I had an opportunity to interact with."

Ewing also noted working with two outstanding admissions directors from nearby colleges – then-Frostburg State College's Edge Deul and then-Allegany Community College's Jim Snider.

"We attended a lot of college fairs together," recalled Ewing. "You'd look forward to traveling together, eating together and stay at the same hotels. I have a lot of fond memories of that time."

Ewing and his wife now split time between Garrett County and Leland, NC, where they purchased a home nine years ago. They have four grandchildren, two boys and two girls.

"Our kids are all doing well," said Ewing. "We're very fortunate to have a great family."