LOCAL NEWS — On September 22, 1969, after almost five years of planning and work, Motlow State Community College opened its doors to 551 students on 187 acres in Moore County.

The Motlow family of Lynchburg donated the land. Because of this generous gift and State Senator Reagor Motlow’s contributions to education in Tennessee, Governor Buford Ellington and Commissioner of Education J. Howard Warf recommended the college be named Motlow State Community College.

According to the college, more than 100 classes were offered during the day and 12 at night. Approximately 97 percent of the first students were from the seven-county service area that included Moore, Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Grundy, Lincoln, and Warren counties. There were 18 full-time faculty members and seven adjunct faculty.

Since then, they’ve celebrated 50 years of serving students, partnering with business, industry, and four-year universities; creating dynamic economic growth, and employing thousands of dedicated faculty, staff and administration. All of this has culminated in Motlow being named the top performing college in Tennessee with an enrollment of almost 7,000 students.

The 50 year anniversary will kick off on September 28 with a Family Fun Day on the Moore County campus that will include a classic car cruise-in, a kid’s zone, live music by Utopia, food, and more. On September 29, the annual Motlow Founders Day Celebration. For more information, visit the special Motlow 50 website. •