“ I enjoyed my time as mayor and learned from the experience . I was blessed with a great city administrator , allowing me to handle the public relations aspects of the job .”
King has been recognized as Athens Citizen of the Year and received numerous service awards , including from his alma mater at Texas A & M-Commerce and the Henderson County Retired Teachers .
He sought to become TVCC president in 2008 when the position became open upon Baugh ’ s retirement . He was bypassed .
Though disappointed , he remained dedicated to the college , and patient . King was rewarded accordingly when the position unexpectedly came open in 2016 and the board of trustees turned to him .
“ I am very proud and thankful to have had the opportunity to serve as president the past seven years ,” King said . “ I feel we have touched and changed the lives of so many students through the years .”
Four years into his tenure , King led the college through a challenge for which no one was prepared – the COVID pandemic .
“ That was easily the biggest challenge we faced ,” King said . “ There was no blueprint how to handle it . We were making decisions as we went along , attempting to minimize the stress for our students , faculty and staff .
“ It was a difficult time when the campus was closed and there were no students . Working together , we got through it , and I am very proud of the way our board , faculty / staff and especially our students worked together to maneuver through it .”
In addition to making a difference in the lives of students , which he will readily and frequently say is the most important role of the college , King said he is also most proud of capital improvements during his tenure as president . He specifically noted the new Health-Science Center in Terrell , purchase and renovation of the old National Guard Armory and Central Park and new seating for Cardinal Gym .
Retirement plans for King include traveling and staying busy with his wife of 51 years , Dosha . He is also hoping to convince his knees to allow him to enjoy his love of playing tennis and golf .
King said he hoped his legacy will be having made a difference in the lives of students , maintaining a family atmosphere , and fostering a positive environment .
After all , it was his first impressions of the college that very first day .
THE KING YEARS
1975-78 – Business / Economics professor 1978-81 – Part-owner private business , adjunct professor 1981-85 – Business / Economics professor 1985-2009 – Dean of Workforce Education 2009-16 – Vice President of Instruction 2016-23 – President
20 | Greater Athens Magazine | May 2023