Leaders Encouraging Aroostook Development (LEAD)
MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITY FRIENDS, alumni, students and employees of NMCC and members of Leaders Encouraging Aroostook Development (LEAD) gathered at NMCC June 17 to mark the official date 50 years ago that the college was founded.
Photo courtesy of Northern Maine Community College
It was on that date in 1961 that former Maine Gov. John Reed of Fort Fairfield signed the legislation that created the college. As part of the celebration, all legislators who have represented Aroostook County in Augusta over the past five decades were acknowledged for their advocacy and support. Special recognition was given to former State Sen. Floyd L. Harding and former State Rep. Harold L. (Bud) Stewart, who were honored for their work in helping create NMCC in the early 1960s and for supporting the college in the years since. Bronze plaques honoring each gentleman were unveiled at the event. They will hang permanently beside a similar plaque honoring the late State Sen. E. Perrin Edmunds, for whom the Edmunds Conference Center and Library Building at NMCC are named. Participating in the unveiling of the plaques were, from left: NMCC President Timothy Crowley, Harding, Stewart, and former NMCC presidents Durward Huffman and James Patterson. More on NMCC’s 50th anniversary and LEAD’s 25th anniversary event will appear in an upcoming edition of The Star-Herald.
