Lib Norton, Reflections on the first 50 years of NETC

Written by Heath Milligan
Published in Pee Dee Life Magazine - Spring 2020

On September 22, 1969, students and employees entered the doors of Chesterfield-Marlboro Technical Education Center in Cheraw for the first time. This was the culmination of many years of behind-the-scenes work, to secure approval and funding for a facility that would serve the post-secondary training needs of Chesterfield and Marlboro counties. One employee present on that first day was Elizabeth D. Norton, who had been hired on August 18 to serve as administrative secretary to the Center's director, Thomas J. Ford.

Fast forward to 2020: The former Chesterfield-Marlboro Technical Education Center has evolved into Northeastern Technical College (NETC) with four physical campuses as well as online course offerings that can be accessed at any time, from any place. One thing that has not changed during the first 50 years of operation is the presence of Elizabeth Norton. She is the only original employee still working at the institution and, thus, holds the record for longevity of employment at the college.

Mrs. Norton, affectionately known as "Mrs. Lib", continues to provide guidance and support to the institution daily. With a smile and a warm southern greeting for those she encounters, she is beloved by everyone. She can pick up the phone and place a call to the offices of state and local representatives, senators, congressmen, and even the governor's office, and her call is taken because she is so well known and respected around the state.

Mrs. Lib's work ethic was instilled early in life when she worked in her family's businesses, which included a grocery store. She was always responsible for some type of small business project that her father was involved in. The attention to detail that she learned at a young age would follow her throughout her professional career.

Mrs. Lib has held a variety of positions during her tenure at Northeastern Technical College, serving as Administrative Secretary to the Director, Administrative Assistant to the President, Director for Administrative Affairs, and President's Office Administrator. She served under the original directors of the Technical Education Center and every president of the institution since the center was renamed in 1974 as Chesterfield-Marlboro Technical College. She plays an instrumental role in working with the institution's area commission and ensures that all meetings are documented accurately. As she always states, "If it's not written down, it didn't take place. We have to make sure that everything is documented accurately." Mrs. Lib makes sure that each commission member receives a packet with pertinent information prior to each meeting as well as taking the minutes during each meeting. During her 50-year tenure at NETC she has missed only three board meetings which were held when she was having surgical procedures. Mrs. Lib also acts as a liaison between the president's office and the NETC Foundation Board. In addition to her other duties, she also taught advanced office procedure courses in the evenings for many years.

One of Mrs. Lib's first jobs was to prepare the institution's policies and procedures manual. "I remember typing it on a typewriter and running it off on a mimeograph machine," she said. "Things have really changed. Now the policies and procedures manual is available online and can be read on your phone, tablet or computer."

Over the years she has seen the campus grow from three buildings in Cheraw, sitting on what was essentially an open field, to a greatly expanded Cheraw campus consisting of eight buildings with beautiful landscaping. In 2000, the college was renamed Northeastern Technical to reflect a newly expanded service area that includes Dillon County. In 2003 community campuses were constructed in Bennettsville, Dillon, and Pageland in an effort to provide more convenient access to course offerings. The Dillon campus gained a second building in 2011 and is currently used to offer general education and nursing courses. In 2016 the Pageland campus saw the addition of a new industrial manufacturing facility. The college began offering classes at Evans Correctional Institution and the Bennettsville Federal Correctional Institution in 2017 as part of an experimental federal grant designed to reduce recidivism. The Bennettsville campus, which was originally located in the historic downtown district, relocated to a former supermarket at the corner of Hwy. 9 and Cottingham Boulevard in 2019. This facility has over 40,000 square feet with plans for construction of an addition that will be used for future academic programming.

"It is truly amazing how much the college has grown over the years. In 1969 I don't think any of us could have ever imagined that the original technical education center would grow from one campus with three buildings in Cheraw into a college with a network of campuses in three counties," stated Mrs. Lib. "In the early days, our main objective was to make the community aware of the college. We made contacts in the community and we literally stood at the front door and counted the students as they registered in 1969. There were almost 100 students that term. Tuition for a full-time student was $45.00 per quarter," she added.

Mrs. Lib served as the President of the South Carolina Technical Education Association (SCTEA) from 1991 to 1992 and from 2000 to 2001, as well as serving as State Chairperson of the South Carolina Chapter of the American Association of Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC) from 1987 to 1989. She has been an active member of her church, First United Methodist Church of Cheraw, where she has attended since birth. She served as a Certified Lay Speaker for many years, traveling to share God's word across the state, and as Lay Leader for the Hartsville District for three years, visiting most of the churches in the district on a regular basis. She currently serves as the teacher for the Kinsey Mulloy Bible Class and President of the United Methodist Women. She has chaired and served on a variety of church committees and remains active in the annual church barbeque which raises funds to support scouting. Mrs. Lib is there every year, alongside fellow church members, helping to prepare plates for those eager for a delicious barbeque meal.

On December 4, 2001 the college recognized her many contributions by naming a conference room in Ingram Hall in her honor. This was fitting considering that this was the room used by the area commission members to conduct their monthly meetings which were documented by Mrs. Lib.

It is not uncommon to find Mrs. Lib on campus at 7:00 pm or later on a weeknight, or to find her on campus on the occasional Saturday. Her dedication to the success of the college does not end at 5:00 p.m. nor on Friday afternoon. She is a wonderful example of dedication and loyalty in service to her community.

Regardless of the title she held at any point during her long career, Mrs. Lib has always had the best interests of the college at heart and continues to do so in her 51st year or service to the institution and those served by it.

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