CLARKESVILLE — A well-known figure in Georgia higher education will be remembered Friday in Cornelia.
Retired North Georgia Technical College President James Hubert Marlowe, 86, of Mt. Airy died Wednesday, Dec. 12.
He held the distinction as the longest-serving president of NGTC, serving for 26 years from 1969 until his retirement in 1995. Prior to that Marlowe was director of student personnel services there starting in 1964.
“I met Mr. Marlowe when my father came to work at NGTC in the mid ‘60s,” said Cynthia Brown, director of Institutional Advancement. “His huge smile, engaging personality, commanding voice and energy made a lasting impression on me. Through the years, Mr. Marlowe has continued to support and promote this college and technical education in ways that have long-lasting results. Mr. Marlowe’s legacy is one of integrity, respect and life-changing educational experiences. He will be missed by all who knew him.”
After his retirement from the college in 1996, he continued to serve NGTC on the North Georgia Technical College Foundation Board of Trustees and as Emeritus Trustee.
“Mr. Marlowe was with the college for so long that his name became synonymous with North Georgia Tech,” said current President Dr. Mark Ivester. “First and foremost, he was a huge student advocate and was a primary leader for post-secondary education and helped make significant progress for technical education statewide.”
But NGTC wasn’t his only higher education involvement. Earlier in his career, Marlowe served as the first full-time director of public relations and alumni affairs for Young Harris College.
On the state level, Marlowe was the founding father of the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL), a program he created to honor outstanding students in technical education.
“Of course, he was known for starting the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) program, and he would attend as many GOAL recognition ceremonies on our campus as he could,” Ivester said. “The faculty and staff really respected him and enjoyed working for him, too. He was just a fun and wonderful person to be around. We are truly certainly saddened by his loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this time.”
One of those staff members who respected him and enjoyed working for him was one of Marlowe’s last hires before retiring from NGTC, Dean of Adult Education Shelby Ward.
“Mr. Marlowe always showed a genuine love for the students and was a firm believer that a technical school could transform lives,” Ward said. “Every time I saw him on campus, he was smiling and taking the time to talk to everyone he met. When he hired me, he sat me down in his office and told me that this school was like a family and as the president it was his job to look after his family. He was a wise, thoughtful and caring man that will be truly missed.”
Additionally, he had served as vice president of the Georgia Vocational Association, was a member of the Georgia Association of Local Administrators, the American Vocational Association, and the Georgia Industrial Developers Association
Marlowe served his community on several local boards, including the Habersham County Hospital Board (equivalent of the current hospital authority) and the Habersham County Airport Authority.
He was a member of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Leadership Georgia from 1972-1973.
He was a past member of the local Lions Club and had served as president.
Funeral services for Marlowe are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, in the chapel of McGahee-Griffin and Stewart Funeral Home in Cornelia. Burial will follow in Yonah Memorial Gardens in Demorest.
The family will receive friends from 5-8 pm on Thursday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be to the North Georgia Technical College Foundation, P.O. Box 65, Clarkesville, GA 30523.
