Campus News
September 27th, 2023
GC names buildings for former legislators Edwards CARC and Beitzel CTTC officially named in dual ceremony
The official renaming of the George C. Edwards Community Aquatic & Recreation Complex (CARC) took place Wednesday morning at Garrett College. Pictured, left to right, are: (back row) CARC Director Steve Putnam, Garrett College Trustee Madeleine Collins, Garrett College Dean Julie Yoder, Garrett County Commissioners Chair Paul Edwards, Garrett College Trustee Kurt Heckman, Garrett College Trustee Duane Yoder, Garrett County Commissioner S. Larry Tichnell, Garrett College Board of Trustees Vice Chair Jason Rush, Garrett College Board of Trustees Chair Don Morin, and Garrett College Foundation Board Director Gary Wakefield; (middle row) Garrett County Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Regina Sweitzer, Garrett College Foundation Board Director Alison Sweitzer, Maryland State Delegate Jim Hinebaugh, Lexi Spotts, Linda Edwards, George C. Edwards, Kristin Edwards, Brady Spotts, Emily Newman-Edwards, (front row) Stella Edwards, and Angelina Edwards.
Garrett College officially renamed two key facilities Wednesday morning in honor of former Senator George C. Edwards and former Delegate Wendell R. Beitzel.
The renaming of the Edwards Community Aquatic & Recreation Complex (CARC) and the Beitzel Career Technology Training Center (CTTC) took place in a dual ceremony in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) at Garrett College. Photos with both legislators' families took place after the formal ceremonies at the two building locations.
"Senator George Edwards' leadership and advocacy played a key role – really, the key role – in creation of a facility that provides recreational and educational opportunities for everyone from preschoolers to seniors," said Don Morin, chair of the Garrett College Board of Trustees.
"Delegate Wendell Beitzel has always been a strong proponent of workforce training in Garrett County," said Jason Rush, vice chair of the Garrett College Board of Trustees. "He specifically championed the creation of the Career Technology Training Center in Accident, clearly understanding the important role such a training center could play for our community."
Maryland Delegate Jim Hinebaugh and Garrett County Commissioners Chair Paul Edwards also praised the former legislators' highly effective careers in public service.
"They brought tens of millions of dollars of state funding to the County," said Hinebaugh. "All you have to do is look around here: this building [the PAC], the CARC, the [Offutt] STEM Center, the library, the new combined soccer, baseball, and softball artificial turf field – and they've done a lot more than that.
"I'm just really, really thankful that it's happening," Hinebaugh said of the building namings. "It's a great thing, it's well deserved and I admire the heck out of both of them."
Paul Edwards, son of the retired senator, noted "I don't think we name buildings after people for trivial reasons."
"We do it because individuals bring transformational change either to the organization involved or the community involved," added Edwards. "On behalf of the commissioners, I'd like to congratulate Wendell and my dad on bringing about that transformational change.
"It will take 5 or 10 years for us in this room and others to truly appreciate what my dad and Wendell were able to do here," Edwards observed, "because that's not going to be duplicated for a long time."
George Edwards noted transformational change "isn't done by one person – it takes a bunch of people."
"I want to thank you all for this honor and recognition," added Edwards. "I appreciate it very much – and let's keep working together . . . so we can accomplish more."
The official renaming of the Wendell R. Beitzel Career Technology Training Center (CTTC) took place Wednesday morning at Garrett College. Pictured, left to right, are (back row) Maryland State Delegate Jim Hinebaugh, Garrett College Dean Julie Yoder, retired State Senator George C. Edwards, Garrett County Commissioners Chair Paul Edwards, Garrett College Trustee Duane Yoder, Garrett College Trustee Madeleine Collins, Frank Vitez, Garrett College Board of Trustees Vice Chair Jason Rush, Garrett County Commissioner S. Larry Tichnell, Garrett College Board of Trustees Chair Don Morin, Garrett College Trustee Kurt Heckman, and Garrett College Foundation Board Director Gary Wakefield; (front row) Garrett County Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Regina Sweitzer, Garrett College Foundation Board Director Alison Sweitzer, Donna Beitzel, Ruth Beitzel, Wendell R. Beitzel, and Tanya Schwinabart.
Beitzel lauded Garrett County as a "tremendous place to be from" and acknowledged his good fortune "to grow up here."
"I'm so grateful for all of the people that I've been able to work with and all the support I've received from the people here," added Beitzel.
Both former legislators thanked their families for the contributions they made which permitted them to dedicate so much of their lives to public service. They also recognized each other for the strong working relationship they forged over the years.
Edwards – who served 24 years in the House of Delegates and 16 years in the State Senate – was also a Garrett County commissioner and a Grantsville Town Council member after leading both Northern Garrett High and then-Fairmont State College to unbeaten football seasons as a star running back.
After leading Fairmont to the NAIA national championship, he was taken in the 11th round of the National Football League draft by the Baltimore Colts. A shoulder injury ended his professional football career, but Edwards quickly pivoted to a career in public service.
Beitzel also graduated from Northern Garrett High and Fairmont State College. He earned two master's degrees from Frostburg State University and eventually owned local businesses in several different fields.
Beitzel, an Army veteran, served a term as a Garrett County commissioner prior to being elected to the House of Delegates in 2006.
