N.C. State University officials broke ground in late December for a new education center at the JC Raulston Arboretum. The event marked the start of construction of the first structure funded as a result of North Carolina’s successful Nov. 7 higher education bond referendum.

The $4.2 million Ruby C. McSwain Education Center is a teaching, outreach and extension facility that will include classrooms and an auditorium. Bond funds provided $500,000 for the building and private donations supplied $3.7 million. The 6,000-square-foot building is due for a summer 2002 completion.

James L. Oblinger, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, presided at the ceremonies that he called “exciting and historic.” Referring to the afternoon’s bitterly cold temperatures, Oblinger said, “We’ve been working 12 years to get to this particular day, and the warm feeling that brings makes us forget the weather.”

The center is named for Ruby Vann Crumpler McSwain of Sanford, who donated $1.2 million toward its completion. McSwain has been one of the College’s more generous benefactors. In 1997, she donated 300 acres and a historic house to the N.C. Agricultural Foundation Inc. for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Lee County Center.

During the groundbreaking, N.C. State University Chancellor Marye Anne Fox thanked McSwain and recognized her long-time support of the arboretum, College and university. She then presented a plaque to Phil Kirk for his leadership in helping the bond issue pass. Kirk, a member of North Carolinians for Educational Opportunity, chairs the state Board of Education, is president of North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry and publishes North Carolina magazine.

N.C. State students will use the new center’s classrooms on a daily basis, and the building’s auditorium and meeting facilities also will be made available for use by the Friends of the Arboretum, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service field faculty, garden clubs, green industry representatives and other gardening-related groups. “Having this center on the grounds will greatly enhance our teaching and public education efforts,” said Dr. Bob Lyons, arboretum director.

Said McSwain, “What an important occasion. I’d rather be here than anywhere at this moment. The jewel in the crown of my life is to be able to participate with so many people who have been working so hard toward this.”

Other supporters of the new McSwain Education Center also were recognized at the ceremony.

J. Willie York of Raleigh, a 1933 N.C. State alumnus, was recognized by William C. Friday, UNC system president emeritus. York presented a $245,000 check to Fox to complete his $300,000 pledge for the education center. In recognition of his gift, Fox called York “a champion for us all” and announced that the center’s auditorium would be named the York Auditorium, in honor of York, his late wife, Elizabeth “Lib” York, and other family members.

Donor Annie Laurie Williams of Raleigh was recognized by Dr. Tom Monaco, professor and head of N.C. State’s Department of Horticultural Science. Contributions from The Garden Club of North Carolina were recognized by Peggy Fain, president of the arboretum’s board of advisers.

— Staff