Historical marker unveiled to honor the legacy of Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) leaders, employees, community members, and preservation partners gathered Thursday morning, January 29, on the Conway Campus to unveil an official state historical marker recognizing the College’s enduring legacy and its vital role in the region’s educational and economic development.

The historical marker project, which began in 2023, was sponsored by the Horry County Historic Preservation Commission. Horry County Planning and Zoning prepared the application that established the marker and coordinated the approval process with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). HGTC authorized the SHPO for the placement of the marker on the Conway Campus.

College and county leaders unveil a state historical marker honoring the founding and growth of Horry-Georgetown Technical College during a ceremony on the Conway Campus.

The marker commemorates the College’s response to a critical need for higher education and workforce training in South Carolina. In March 1964, after three petitions by local leaders, the State of South Carolina approved the creation of the Horry-Marion-Georgetown Technical Education Center. Construction began in 1965, and the institution opened its doors in September 1966 on twelve acres of land in Conway.

Under the leadership of Director G. William “Bill” Dudley Jr. and Chairman Philip Gray, the school initially served 123 full-time and 400 part-time students, offering associate degree and certificate programs focused on vocational training, agriculture, hospitality, forestry, and other industry-driven needs. The first certificates were awarded in 1967, followed by the first associate degrees in 1968.

In 1968, Marion County withdrew from the coalition, and the institution became known as the Horry-Georgetown Technical Education Center. In 1975, following accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, it officially adopted the name Horry-Georgetown Technical College. That decade marked a period of growth, including the expansion of the Conway Campus and the establishment of instructional offerings in Georgetown, where an official satellite campus opened in 1978.

Further expansion continued through the 1980s and 1990s with the development of additional campuses, including the Grand Strand Campus in Myrtle Beach. Today, the Conway Campus remains the oldest and largest of HGTC’s locations.

Now offering more than 80 degree, diploma, and certificate programs, HGTC serves more than 11,000 academic and workforce development students annually and boasts an alumni base of nearly 30,000. The College is currently the fourth largest institution in the South Carolina Technical College System.

“The unveiling of this historical marker is an important moment for our College and our community,” said Dr. Marilyn ‘Murph’ Fore, president of Horry-Georgetown Technical College. “It honors the vision of local leaders who believed higher education could change lives and recognizes HGTC’s lasting impact as we prepare to celebrate our 60th anniversary this year.”