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By Erin Smith
An overcast morning greeted those who gathered outside the administration building at Bladen Community College in Dublin on Monday morning as William Jennings “Billy” Hair was remembered. Hair was a founding Trustee for the college when it was established in 1967 and a Bull Bay tree was planted and dedicated in his memory.
Hair, who passed away on March 21, 2018, served as Superintendent of Bladen County Schools as well as serving as a teacher and principal. He also served as one of the founding members of the Board of Trustees for Bladen Community College. In fact, prior to his death, Mr. Hair was the last founding member of the original Board of Trustees for the school. He served on the Board of Trustees from 1967 until 1979.
On Monday, his memory was honored with a tree dedication ceremony and Arbor Day ceremony. Members of Mr. Hair’s family were present for the dedication which took place at 11 a.m. at the Essic Williams Administration Building and was sponsored by the school’s Green Technology Committee.
BCC President Dr. William Findt greeted the family prior to the ceremony and welcomed them to the campus. Dr. Findt said the BCC campus is a Green Technology campus and is a Arbor Tree campus.
“It’s good to see the family here and I’ve known Mr. Hair as long as I have been President here,” said Dr. Findt. “He would always be here with us, supporting us.”
Dennis Troy, President of the Board of Trustees, said Monday’s event was an opportunity to show Mr. Hair’s family that the faculty and staff at Bladen Community College care about the Hair family.
Director of the BCC Small Business Center Programs Todd Lyden read a proclamation regarding Arbor Day and Cierra Griffen, High School and College Program Coordinator, explained that Bladen Community College has received the Arbor Tree campus award for 2017. It is one of 250 campuses nationwide to receive the designation, said Griffen. She added that it is the second year the school has received this honor.
Sondra Guyton, with Continuing Education at Bladen Community College, read a tribute to Mr. Hair.
“I cannot think of a better way to honor Mr. Billy (Hair) than by planting a tree to remember the love and dedication of a man committed to his God, his family, his work and to this college,” said Guyton.
Christine McDonald of the BCC Library read the poem, “What Do We Plant” to the guests in attendance.
A marker with Mr. Hair’s name and dates he served as a Trustee has been placed at the base of the tree.
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