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Dr. Ronald W. Hampton Pawleys Island Dr. Ronald Wayne Hampton died on Friday, July 10, 2015 due to a long-term illness. Born October 17, 1940 in Kannapolis, NC, he was a son of Raymond and Helen J. Hampton. Dr. Hampton attended Kannapolis public schools, graduating from A.L. Brown High School in 1959. A standout athlete, Dr. Hampton went on to attend Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC, where he played football in the 1960 Tangerine Bowl. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Presbyterian College, he earned a master’s degree in counseling from Appalachian State University and a doctorate in educational psychology from Nova University. Dr. Hampton devoted his professional career of more than 40 years to education and economic development for the benefit of South Carolina and its citizens. He began his career teaching psychology and coaching football, basketball, and track in Chester, SC, followed by service as Associate Director/Dean of Instruction at York Technical College and Vice President at Spartanburg Technical College. Dr. Hampton and his family moved to Cheraw in 1977, when he was named President of Chesterfield-Marlboro Technical College (now Northeastern Technical College). He spent the rest of his professional career at Northeastern, where he led the college through an era of unprecedented growth in enrollment, course offerings, and physical facilities. During Dr. Hampton’s 27 years at NETC, student enrollment increased over 100 percent and the size of the Cheraw campus doubled. The college expanded its service area to include Dillon County, and its name was changed to Northeastern Technical College to reflect a new regional focus. Dr. Hampton also led in the establishment of community campuses in Pageland, Dillon and Bennettsville, developed a registered apprenticeship program in metalworking, and helped to establish NETC’s nursing curriculum. Dr. Hampton’s educational leadership extended throughout the southern United States through many years of service on the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the regional organization which reviews and accredits colleges in 11 southern states and Latin America. After retiring from NETC, he served an interim president at Williamsburg Technical College in Kingstree, SC. Dr. Hampton was active in many community organizations, including the Cheraw Rotary Club (president and Paul Harris Fellow), the Cheraw Chamber of Commerce (president), and the Chesterfield General Hospital Board. His service was recognized in 2003 when the Governor of South Carolina presented him with the Order of the Silver Crescent, the state’s highest award for volunteer and community service. The Ronald W. Hampton Student Center at Northeastern Technical College was named in Dr. Hampton’s honor at his retirement in 2003. Surviving are his wife, Shelia Argo Hampton, of the home; daughter, Georgia Christian, of Myrtle Beach; son, Ronald Wayne Hampton Jr. and his wife Leah, of Pittsburgh, PA; brother, Keith Hampton and his wife Elizabeth, of Washington, NC; and seven grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2015, at 12:00 pm, St. Paul’s Waccamaw United Methodist Church in Pawleys Island, SC. Visitation will immediately follow at the church in Berly Hall. A graveside service announcement date and time will soon be made, which will be held in Kannapolis, NC. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ronald W. Hampton Scholarship Fund, Northeastern Technical College Foundation, 1201 Chesterfield Hwy, Cheraw, SC 29520 and the Agape Senior Foundation, 1624 main St., Columbia, SC 29203. Sign a guestbook at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

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Dr. Ronald W. Hampton

October 17, 1940 - July 10, 2015