LILLINGTON - Tim McNeill, former Central Carolina Community College trustee and former Harnett County commissioner, was honored by the college Oct. 23 at the college's new Harnett Health Sciences Center.

"We are here to honor Tim for all the work he has done for the college and Harnett County," said Julian Philpott, chair of the CCCC Board of Trustees. "I can't begin to tell you all he's done, but I can tell you we're in a building that was part of his vision and that he worked hard to get it constructed for the benefit of the college and the county. He had the vision for the establishment of a health care corridor in Harnett and pushed hard for it as chair of the county commissioners."

Philpott said that when McNeill spoke at the groundbreaking for the Center on the Brightwater Science and Technology Campus, "you could hear the passion in his voice for what he was trying to accomplish for the college and county."

The college's board of trustees met at the Center for an open house and trustees meeting. CCCC President Bud Marchant presented McNeill with a print of college buildings created by artist Jerry Miller.

"When I was hired by the board of trustees in 2008, Tim would call me on a weekly or bimonthly basis to check on things," Marchant said. "The expansion of our college facilities in Harnett County is due, in large part, to Tim's hard work and dedication."

McNeill served as a college trustee from 2001 to 2013 and a commissioner from 2000 to 2012. During those years, the college opened its West Harnett Center, added a classroom building and renovations at its Lillington campus, and built the Harnett Health Sciences Center.

"A lot of good people helped get these things accomplished," McNeill said. "The Harnett Health Sciences Center was [CCCC Harnett Provost] Bill Tyson's dream. A lot of people were working together for this. People will benefit for years to come from what we have done - people bettering themselves, fulfilling their dreams."

McNeil said the Center is a complement to Central Harnett Hospital, Campbell University's School of Osteopathic Medicine, and the other medical facilities opening along the 421 corridor.

"You can feel such a synergy for what it's going to do, not just for the people of Harnett County, but statewide and worldwide," he said. "It's great to have state-of-the-art healthcare training and service facilities in Harnett County. They are an example for other counties and community colleges to follow."

The 50,400-square-foot concrete panel and steel Center, at 51 Red Mulberry Way, has a two story main building connected by a vestibule to a one-story multipurpose building. The Center provides space for CCCC continuing education and curriculum health care programs in Harnett County, including Associate Degree Nursing, nursing assistant, phlebotomy, EKG, pharmacy technician, medical assisting, and physical therapist assistant.

"As a fellow trustee, I enjoyed serving with Tim for several years," said Clem Medley, of Dunn. "It was a pleasure to watch him in tireless dedication to the mission of the college. He has left an indelible, everlasting mark on the county and the college with his efforts."

For more information about CCCC's health care programs, visit www.cccc.edu.