John Messick Resigns as ECC President
These articles document the resignation of ECC President Dr. John Messick after a 13-year term. These and other articles may be found in the records of the Chancellor's Office,Record Group CH1050, Series 1, Scrapbook File, 1914-1978 in the University Archives.Citation for these articles:
“ECC President Messick to Resign Effective January 1,”The Raleigh Times , Raleigh, N.C., October 23, 1959.
Katsias, Mike. “Messick Resigns; News Shakes Campus,” East Carolinian. Greenville, N.C., October 29, 1959.
ECC President Messick to Resign Effective January 1
“Frustrating Pressures” Cited as Reason for Move
Dr. John Messick confirmed today he was submitting his resignation as president of East Carolina College to take a job with the federal government in Washington.
Messick said he had been considering the job with the National Committee on Special Education and Rehabilitation in Washington for only two weeks but had been thinking about resigning since February.
He listed his reason for seeking a new job the “pressures” involved in running the college he has headed since 1947.
“I’m just getting tired of the pressures involved. . . Mostly the pressure if obtaining sufficient funds to operate a college like ours,” said Messick.
“It’s frustrating when you know what the needs are, how great they are and still can’t get the money you need.”
The resignation will be presented at a meeting this afternoon of the state-supported college’s board of trustees, Messick said.
He said the trustees had no choice but to accept his resignation.
It will be effective January 6, 1960.
In his new post in Washington, Messick will work in an organization handling special education projects for such groups as the blind and deaf. He described the committee as a “fact-finding, advisory and remedial” group.
“This job gives me such a magnitude of opportunity and scope that it seems to be really challenging,” he said.
A native of Beaufort County, Dr. Messick came to East Carolina from Montclair State Teachers College, N.J., where he was dean of instruction. He received his degree from Elon College, a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina and his doctorate from New York University. He has served as dean of Elon College and has held posts in several county boards of education.
During his term here enrollment at the college has climbed from about 1,000 to more than 4,000. He was credited with much of the effort to expand the college.
Messick Resigns; News Shakes Campus
Dignitaries Express RegretsA stunned campus community registered complete shock when official publicity releases announced the resignation of Dr. John D. Messick as President of East Carolina College last Friday afternoon.
In announcing his resignation, he requested to be relieved of his duties by January 6, 1960, in order to assume the position of assistant director of the National Committee on Special Education and Rehabilitation in Washington, D.C.
A series of disappointments over pressures applied during his quest to gain financial support for the College were his reasons for seeking departure from the institution that has relied so heavily on his skillful administrative talents.
“There have been times when it was impossible to obtain sufficient appropriations with which to meet our needs, and pressures caused by this have at times lessened the effectiveness of the program of the College. It has also motivated a desire on my part for a position with less frustration but a wider area of interests. As a result, since last February I have been considering eventual resignation,” Messick stated.
Prior to the meeting of the board of trustees, where he submitted his resignation, various individuals approached him to change his mind. A group of trustees entered his office and pleaded for a reversal of his decision for the welfare of the College, but this proved to no avail. His resignation remained on the agenda for the board to act upon.
In the typical manner that has earned him the title of “master planner,” he presented letters and personal comments for the trustees, the faculty, and the student body. “I wish to express my appreciation to every member of my present Board of Trustees and to former members still living for their outstanding loyalty, cooperation and faith in my leadership since I first took office. So far as the faculty and staff are concerned, I doubt that any other president in the country is more fortunate than I.”
It was evident to the student observers attending the meeting what a close bond existed between the president and his trustees. They still wanted him to change his mind.
Finally convinced that he would not alter his decision, various members rose to offer final tribute. Mr. Herbert Waldrop of Greenville, present chairman, said, ‘We needed a leading educator with vision, ability to build a superstructure on the already great foundation, including the expansion of the physical facilities, acquiring an increasingly greater faculty and staff, and an organizer who could keep abreast if the times with personnel, curriculum and instructional adequacy. All of this you have done.”
“It is with heavy heart that we receive this news from our dearly beloved president. For 12 years, we have received a magnificent job,” commented Henry Belk of Goldsboro, and Henry Oglesby of Washington, D. C. They will prepare a list if suitable candidates from which Messick’s successor will be selected at the next called meeting.
