LUMBERTON — Building No. 11 at Robeson Community College, home of the Basic Law Enforcement Training program, now bears the name of the school’s current board of trustees chairman, Sammy Cox Jr.
The Sammy Cox Law Enforcement Center was dedicated Monday during a ceremony organized by the RCC Foundation. The dedication took place after Cox donated $100,000 to the program. Alan Avant, RCC Foundation board of directors chairman, delivered the presentation of the resolution before a crowd of about 70 people, including students and faculty from the law enforcement and nursing programs.
Cox is a former student in the program.
“This has always been a dream of mine to have this building named after me,” Cox said.
The Basic Law Enforcement Training program is tasked with giving students the skills required for entry-level employment as law enforcement officers with state, county and municipal governments or with private enterprise.
The money Cox donated will go toward scholarships for students in the department, something RCC President Kimberly Gold said will help students and the program move forward.
“What this kind of opportunity and this kind of investment in the college does is it provides students with more opportunities to attend because the funds will go into scholarship dollars,” Gold said. “But it also raises awareness to the programs we have.”
Several people helped by Cox and members of his family spoke during the event. Among them was former RCC President Charles Chrestman.
“It’s good to know that he and his wife and family are recognized for their commitment to this institution,” Chrestman said.
Former Sheriff Glenn Maynor also spoke of Cox and his legacy.
“This is the first time I’ve spoken publicly in 10 years,” Maynor said. “It’s because I cherish so much this family. There’s a special place in my heart for the Cox family.”
Mickey Biggs, Basic Law Enforcement program director, said Cox and his family have been a cornerstone for the department and have played a big role in what it has become today.
“Mr. Cox has been an intricate part of the Law Enforcement Department at Robeson Community College since the 1970s,” Biggs said.
Other speakers include county Commissioners Raymond Cummings, David Edge, and Roger Oxendine, and Robert Ivey, commander of the Lumberton Rescue Unit. Sheriff-elect Burnis Wilkins, who used to head the program, sent a message that was read.
Cox was a student at the Basic Law Enforcement Training program in 1975, when he received his General Law Enforcement certification, and went on to teach in that program the next year. He remembers the program being housed in smaller buildings.
“When I was a student here this building didn’t exist. We went to school over there in those little buildings,” Cox said, pointing across the campus.
Cox went on to serve as a Robeson County sheriff’s deputy, a detective with the Lumberton Police Department, and as a patrol officer with the St. Pauls Police Department.
June 2019 will mark Cox’s 20th year on the RCC board of trustees.
“It’s very clear that his passion is here at the college for law enforcement and nursing,” Gold said. “This gift is just one example of his support. I think it really speaks to his commitment to higher education and his belief in where an education can take students who come here.”
