Approximately 100 Alamance County public officials and a host of dignitaries attended a retirement party Tuesday afternoon for Alamance Community College president Dr. Algie Gatewood.
Gatewood, 71, is retiring Friday after serving 10 years as president of ACC.
Gatewood was named Tuesday as president emeritus, for what ACC trustee Bill Gomory described as his transformational leadership, dedication, and 10 years of service to the community college.
Gatewood’s retirement party was held inside the Biotech Center of Excellence, which opened this spring on ACC’s campus.
Among those who attended Gatewood’s retirement celebration were: numerous current and former ACC trustees; Alamance County district court judge Larry Brown; former county commissioner and retired former CEO of Alamance Regional Medical Center Bob Byrd; Burlington city manager Craig Honeycutt; former State Board of Community Colleges member and ACC trustee Sam Powell; Mebane city manager Chris Rollins; Thomas Stith, retired president of the North Carolina Community Colleges System; and Congresswoman Val Foushee, along with other Alamance County business and education leaders.
ACC’s trustees had entered into a closed session during a special-called meeting Friday afternoon in order to consider granting emeritus status under a provision in state law that allows public bodies to hold a closed session in order to prevent the premature disclosure of an honorary degree or similar award.
ACC’s trustees have not yet announced the name of an interim president who will serve while a permanent successor to Gatewood can be located.
Gatewood has previously told The Alamance News that, while he may do some higher education consulting work in the future, he plans to take some time off to visit family but will continue living in Alamance County.
Other photos from the Gatewood retirement reception
