New scholarship honors educator, historian

The Mountain Empire Community College Foundation has announced creation of the Garnett Gilliam Buccaneer Scholarship.

The scholarship honors Gilliam for his contributions as a former Wise County public school teacher, historian and community volunteer.

The scholarship will benefit graduates of Union High School and graduates of the former Powell Valley and Appalachia high schools, according to a press release.

The foundation encourages donations online at www.meccfoundation.org/give or by mail to MECC Foundation, Attention: Garnett Gilliam Buccaneer Scholarship, 3441 Mountain Empire Rd., Big Stone Gap, Va. 24219.

Born in 1935, the youngest of five brothers, Gilliam came to his love of history early in his schooling. After graduating from Big Stone Gap High School in 1954, Garnett earned a four-year football scholarship to Emory and Henry College, where he continued his love of the sport as well as his love of history. In 1958, he graduated with a B.A. in history and a minor in physical education.

Gilliam served an Army tour of duty in Korea, then returned to teach and coach at J.J. Kelly High School.

Gilliam came to Powell Valley High School in 1963 and stayed for 35 years as a teacher, coach, administrator and creator of the school’s driver education program.

As retirement approached, Gilliam’s collection of memorabilia about Wise County towns and schools outgrew his space at home. He opened a dedicated space at the June Tolliver House, and was recognized for his efforts by the town of Big Stone Gap and the Gap Corporation in 2000.

In 2007, Gilliam and others created the Lonesome Pine School and Heritage Center in a renovated home on Clinton Avenue. The collections continued to grow and more space was needed.

In 2020, volunteers surprised him by naming the newest addition to the center in his honor. The Garnett Gilliam Continuing Education Center will host guest lectures, book signings and special exhibits.

The center houses a collection of past and present school memorabilia as well as thousands of pictures, and is a research center for genealogy and a local gathering spot to learn about everything from the area’s coal mining heritage to author John Fox Jr. to the local camps of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Gilliam hopes this scholarship will benefit those of an age who value an education but may not have the means to achieve it. “Without the help of scholarships,” he said, “I would not have gone to college.”

For more information, please contact the MECC Foundation at 276/523-7480 or by email to Amy Greear, agreear@mecc.edu.