A native of Mars Hill, North Carolina,
Bruce B. Roberts was the first director of the Guilford
Industrial Education Center. He was a graduate of North Carolina
State. Prior to coming to GIEC, Roberts served as supervisor of
trade and industrial
education for the High Point School System.
Roberts played an important
part in bringing the school into being. As its first director,
he served during the crucial formulative years of the industrial
center.
His administration oversaw remodeling of the "Old
Main" Sanatorium
building from a hospital into a facility suitable for vocational
training.
His administration saw the school's first classes
and successful first year. Under Roberts leadership, the number of
courses increased
rapidly and the school undertook its first Manpower Development
Training Act classes. The building Machinery Hall was finished
and Furniture
Hall was started.
