Former food service director passes away

Former food service director passes away

Vernon Powell Former PC Food Service Director Dies

Vernon Powell, a former food service director at the College, died on March 9, 2016, at the age of 93. Powell was widely respected and loved during his time at PC, evident in a PC magazine from 1999 that dubbed him “as much a goodwill ambassador for the college as he was a food service director.”

Upon being discharged from the US Army following WWII, Powell took a job as the food service director at North Greenville Junior College, his alma mater. In 1947, Powell joined the PC family, remaining here until 1960. After pursuing other jobs for some years, Powell came back to campus in 1977, officially retiring in 1999. In total, he served the PC community for 35 years.

Vernon Powell Former PC Food Service Director Dies

Interestingly, Powell developed his passion for cooking during a home economics course he took as a joke as a teenager. Years later, working first in PC’s Judd Dining Hall and then in Greenville Dining Hall, Powell utilized his knack for all things food-related to fuel the exceptional reputation of the College’s dining services.

Vernon Powell Former PC Food Service Director DiesAccording to another PC magazine from 1984, Powell felt that it was important that “the dining room staff be a contributor—no, a participant—in college activities.” Accordingly, Powell and his team strove to benefit the College however possible, hosting banquets and taking on students projects to the extent that they often found themselves booked for two events on the same evening.

A few of Powell’s favorite memories from his time at PC included the cakes his team made for PC’s 75th and 100th birthday celebrations, the cake for the College’s 100th birthday being a facsimile of Neville Hall.

Powell served the PC community extremely well during his time as food service director, and he will be remembered, in keeping with a title given him after his retirement, as a “PC legend.”

To read the full obituary about Vernon Powell, click here.