Former VGCC Dean To Speak At Spring Graduation May 11

Vance-Granville Community College’s spring graduating class of more than 360 will hear remarks on May 11 by one of the true veterans of the school’s growth.

Retired Dean of Students Frank H. Madigan will speak at the graduation, which will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at the gazebo by the campus lake.

Madigan was one of the first four employees hired when the school began as Vance County Technical Institute. He remained at the college from 1970 until retirement in 1996, and after that continued to work part-time until October 1999.

Serving as Dean of Students, Madigan did “whatever it took” to help the new school get established and become successful. He helped set up curriculum programs at the school, and he handled everything from student recruitment to registration to advertising.

His co-workers and supervisors said that Madigan’s first priority was always the welfare of the students. A Vietnam veteran who returned to school at VGCC in 1971 said of Madigan: “A lot of people had emotional stress. (Madigan) came in and was always there for you. He helped us through a transitional period, coming from conflict and trying to adjust to civilian life.”

Frank Madigan was familiar with military life. He was the son of a career Navyman, and he served a tour of duty in the U.S. Air Force after attending East Carolina University on a football scholarship and earning a B.S. in physical education and science.

Following Air Force duty, Madigan earned a master’s degree in physical education and in guidance and education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He taught and coached and served as Dean of Men and later Dean of Students at Frederick College in Portsmouth, Va., prior to moving to Henderson and joining the new Vance County Technical Institute.

Frank Madigan has long been actively engaged in community service, having served as president and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Vance County Red Cross chapter. He has served as a member of the vestry and in other positions at The Church of the Holy Innocents, and in 2000, he was named Vance County Volunteer of the Year.

He and his wife, Barbara, have two sons, David and Paul, and a daughter, Tracy.

Of his days at Vance-Granville Community College, Madigan said he was particularly touched by non-traditional students. “They work a night shift and then come and take courses – you really have to be impressed,” he said. “They have roles as parents and employees, and they are still trying to better themselves.”