Original article by NC State Campaign
The College of Engineering will host a special dedication ceremony for Fitts-Woolard Hall, named after ISE alumni Ed Fitts ’61 and his fellow industrial engineering alumnus Edgar S. Woolard’ 56, on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021.
Another example of the alumni support involved in this project is the new Smith Lab, named by industrial engineering alumnus, CTE President/CEO and NC State Board of Trustees Vice Chair Ed Weisiger Jr. ’82 in honor of ISE Senior Lecturer and Assistant Head Emeritus Clarence Smith Jr. ’69, ’83. Smith said he believes this unexpected gesture speaks to the kindness of his former pupil.
“I am an NC State graduate and was on faculty at NC State for 32 years,” Smith said. “I taught and advised more than 4,000 students [during that time]. Ed was one of the first students I taught. When I found out about the gift, I called Ed to thank him, and I got very emotional. I still get very emotional.
“It’s such an honor,” he added. “I believe the Smith Lab is the only lab in the building, thus far, named for a former faculty member.”
Fitts-Woolard Hall unofficially opened in the summer of 2020. Still, out of an abundance of caution regarding COVID-19, university officials chose to postpone the dedication until faculty, alumni, donors and other members of the Pack could safely join in honoring its completion. That decision led to the inclusion of the ceremony in this year’s Red and White Week, which runs Oct. 24-30. The Fitts-Woolard Hall ceremony will serve as one of the annual homecoming celebration’s final events.