Alex E. Booth, Jr., was honored recently at the dedication and grand opening of the facility that will bear his name. The Booth Center will function as a higher education center where students can begin college at the community college level and continue through a master’s degree and beyond.
“I feel pride that I was able to make money in Buchanan County when coal was booming. But I feel more pride about giving money back to the land from which it came,” said Booth. He also spoke about the fact that as a member of a college board he was privy to the results of a survey, which showed that students often left college because of the conflict that arises when they have to leave home. “Leaving home is a serious step for any student,” said Booth. “It creates a fracture between the student and his family, church, and community. It affects all aspects of his life.” The Booth Center offers an opportunity for the residents of Buchanan County and beyond to achieve a seamless higher education without leaving home.
“One day, in the future, we are going to be able to look back and say it was Southwest Virginia Community College, Appalachian School of Law, the people of this county, their leaders and wonderful people like Alex and Kay Booth, that made this all possible,” said Dr. J. Mark Estepp, president of SVCC.
“On behalf of the law school, we are excited about the facility,” said Wes Shinn, dean of ASL. “I was the first person to teach in this building, to about 130 law students. We are looking to expand the footprint of ASL by offering our classes to students outside of the immediate region,” said Shinn in talking about future plans for the school.
“Today is the day that we celebrate the place where a seamless education will be possible,” said Dr. Charles King, president emeritus of SVCC. He praised Alex Booth as “A man with a passion who has made this facility possible.”
Mary Lawson, executive director of the SVCC Foundation, was the moderator for the event. “When we (SVCC) received the generous donation of the old Ford building from the Harold Smith family, that was when SVCC began offering classes in a designated center in the county,” said Lawson.
Alex E. Booth, Jr. donated $3.5 million to make the facility a reality. These funds were added to $1,278,431 from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Authority to fund construction of the building.
The architect of the building is Thompson and Litton. Contractor for the project is J.A. Street and Associates.
Virginia Senator Phillip Puckett gave praise to community colleges and the role that they play in educating Virginians. “Governor Mills Godwin, in 1966, sold the idea to the General Assembly of a one cent sales tax to fund the community college system to provide affordable education for the people of the Commonwealth. I cannot look back without wondering where we would have been if not for community colleges.”
Wayne Bostic, chair of the SVCC Board concurred, “I am proud of what we have been able to do for our community.
Delegate Dan Bowling, Virginia House of Representatives, commented that “as a professor at Southwest for more than 35 years, most of the students I’ve had went to college and then had to go all the way home to work second or third shift. This will keep them close to home so that they won’t have to travel over Shortt Gap during the winter.”
“We are proud to have played a part in this wonderful building,” said Jay Rife of VCEDA. He went on to say that the county is used to dealing with adversity such as mine strikes, floods, and economic setbacks, but in the last ten years the county has reformed itself into a higher education destination with the law and pharmacy colleges and now the Booth Center.
Roger Powers, mayor of Grundy and chair of the ASL Board, thanked the supporters who participated in the dedication of the building.
“Benjamin Franklin wrote that ‘An investment in knowledge brings the greatest dividends. Thank you Mr. Booth,” said Jim Boyd, chair of the SVCC Foundation Board.
Jonathan Romeo and Bill Fiess, SVCC faculty, provided music for the dedication and grand opening of the Booth Center. The reception was hosted by Street Law Firm, LLP. Jo’s Pastries and Candies catered the event.