New health and sciences building to be named after England
By: Mike Gavin
Published: December 06, 2024
SPINDALE (Dec. 2, 2024) – The new health and sciences building at Isothermal Community College will be named after Dr. Bobby F. England, officials said at a ceremony on Monday. Two major gifts to the project were announced as well.
“I’ve enjoyed a great relationship with Isothermal for more than 50 years,” said England. “Many times, we talked about the need for a health and sciences building to provide a great learning environment in the health fields. And, now I say, thank you ICC for making that a reality. In the future, just think what a wonderful opportunity it will be for those students who walk through the door of this facility.”
The $32 million building, funded largely by a $30 million appropriation from the North Carolina General Assembly, will feature 55,000 square feet of cutting-edge healthcare simulation space, labs, and classrooms. Isothermal’s nursing classes are currently being taught in the old Rutherfordton Elementary School that was built in the late 1950s. The science labs in the Administration Building have been updated several times but still are not the state-of-the-art facilities that ICC students and faculty deserve, said Dr. Margaret Annunziata, the college’s president.
“This building will equip our faculty and staff to prepare our students well to go forward to highly skilled careers and to be able to support themselves and their families for years and for generations to come.”
James Hutchins, chair of the Isothermal Board of Trustees announced the naming at the ceremony in the college’s Performing Arts and Conference Center.
North Carolina Speaker of the House and U.S. Congressman-elect Tim Moore, who serves part of Isothermal’s service area, was on hand to make some remarks.
“I can think of no better person deserving of this legacy,” said Moore. “This will be such a key building to train people to be healthcare providers in our communities. Dr. England has had a lifetime of improving peoples’ lives here in Rutherford County.”
Dr. Thad Harrill, ICC’s chief development officer introduced Paul and Paula McIntosh to the crowd of about 75 at the event. The couple is giving $400,000 to the project to help with expenses like equipping labs and other instructional spaces.
“I saw how important this college is to our economy, our workforce, and our community when I was a county commissioner,” said Paul McIntosh. “That’s why Paula and I wanted to be a part of this.”
Harrill then introduced Rosemary Smith, who serves on the board of the Glenn and Lucy Daniel Education Foundation. Smith talked about Lucy’s love of science education and her tireless drive to reach students.
“When the members of the foundation board learned of this project, it just seemed like something Glenn and Lucy would have loved,” said Smith.
That foundation is making a challenge donation of $200,000.
England has dedicated his life to service, selflessness, dedication, passion, and leadership in his community, serving Rutherford County as a physician and sports medicine provider from 1964 to 2018. He was also the medical director for Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services. In addition, Dr. England was elected as a member of the Rutherford County Board of Education from 1975 to 1994. There, he served 18 years as chairman. Following that, England served as a member of the NC House of Representatives from 2003 to 2011. He also served on the Isothermal Community College Board of Trustees from 1995 until 2015.
Dr. England served many years on the Rutherford Hospital board. His service there, as that entity transitioned from a non-profit to a for-profit institution, was instrumental in the creation of the RHI Legacy Foundation. That organization, under England’s formative leadership, has dedicated its resources to the health of the community through initiatives including the creation of the Thermal Belt Rail Trail and transformative support for the Community Health Council of Rutherford County. Dr. England spent more than five decades on the sidelines of East Rutherford High School’s football games volunteering as team physician. He also spent many years providing sports physicals for high school athletes in the county at no cost to the students or their families.