Harvey Lee Haynes, 89, President Emeritus of A-B Tech, died January 12, 2020, after a brief illness. He was the College’s second president from 1975 to 1990. His career began at the College as counselor/coordinator of A-B Tech's predecessor, the Industrial Education Center. He left in 1961 and returned to A-B Tech as Dean of Instruction in 1963.
He was born on September 21, 1930, the only child of the late Nathaniel “Dan” Haynes and Betty Lou Penland and was a descendent of the very early settlers (1796) in the Beech community. After graduating from Weaverville High School, he joined the US Air Force and went on active duty. Upon completing active duty, he entered Asheville Biltmore College and was recalled to active duty at the beginning of the Korean conflict and was assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing. After being released from active duty, he reentered Asheville Biltmore College and played both baseball and football. He transferred to Western Carolina College and after graduating, he accepted a position at the newly consolidated North Buncombe High School where he coached three sports.
After one-year teaching, he joined the Out Door Lighting Division of General Electric. In addition to working as a product designer, he was assigned to teach tool and dye apprentices and this experience caused his interest in adult education and he applied for a position with the Asheville Industrial Center. He joined two other individuals on the eighth floor of the City Hall while two buildings were being complete on Victoria Road. It was his responsibility to visit high schools in the western fourteen counties since high school students would be admitted on a half-day schedule. It was also his responsibility to develop the curricula for the center program.
In the fall of 1961, he was invited to Greenville South Carolina, to open the first Technical Education Center for the State, now knows as Greenville Tech. After completing construction and staffing, the Center opened for students and he returned to the Asheville Industrial Center prior to the passing of the Community College Act for the State. He worked for the next fifteen years as the academic officer, and in September 1975, he was elected as President of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Institute.
After retirement, he served for sixteen years as a member of the Board of Trustees, and also served as Director of Western Carolina Tomorrow and as interim President of Southwestern Community College. Over the years, he served on many Boards and belonged to several organizations. The Buncombe County Commissioners named June 30, 1990, Harvey Haynes day and the Governor of South Carolina named a day in his honor for his work at Greenville Tech. He also received the Distinguish Alumni Award from Western Carolina University.
Haynes said the most significant change he witnessed while at A-B Tech happened on July 1, 1963, when the College was converted from an Industrial Education Center to a Technical Institute. Overnight, the College was moved from Asheville City Schools and given its own nine-member board of trustees. “That was the big day and everything changed. Overnight, Tom Simpson’s title changed from Director to President.”
Haynes said one of his proudest moments was standing on stage in the auditorium of Stephens-Lee High School (Asheville’s African-American secondary school) in April 1961, when he invited its entire student body to be a part of the Industrial Education Center. “This College never, ever operated one single day in its history as a segregated institution,” he said.
Highlights of Haynes tenure as President of A-B Tech
- Established EMS, Medical Laboratory, Criminal Justice programs
- Began America’s first decorative painting and restoration program with City and Guilds of London Institute
- Increased curriculum enrollment by 93%
- Increased Continuing Education enrollment to 10,000+
- Acquired land from St. Genevieve-Gibbons Hall bringing campus total to 126.7 acres
- Created campus child care center
- Opened Small Business Center
- Opened A-B Tech Madison
- Constructed a recreational complex
- Constructed pedestrian walkways and made campus more accessible
