The Beginnings of a Rich History
In 1961, Governor George Wallace founded a group of state, two-year technical institutions to support the technical/vocational career education needs of African Americans. Its original campus covered 30 acres of land deeded by Alabama A & M University to the Alabama Board of Education, and the new college opened its doors in 1962 with 27 students enrolled in four programs – auto mechanics, cosmetology, electronics, and masonry. In 1966, the school changed its name to J. Drake State Technical Trade School in honor of the late Joseph Fanning Drake, long-time president of Alabama A&M University. The Alabama State Board of Education granted Drake State technical college status in 1973 and adjusted its name to J. Drake State Technical College, allowing the school to offer the Associate in Applied Technology Degree (AAT). Another modern educational enhancement involved Drake State’s dedication to the community. In 2010, the college spearheaded a move into downtown Huntsville by offering classes in the historic Times Building on Holmes Avenue. This had a positive impact not only on the school’s enrollment, but also on the city’s downtown development – adding students to the downtown business landscape to stimulate rejuvenation of the urban area. In January 2012, Drake State began its membership with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This landmark achievement ensured transferability of general education courses and streamlined student transitions from two-year degrees into university programs anywhere in the United States – a tremendous enhancement for the school and its students. The final step in establishing the school’s identity came in July of 2013 when the college officially became J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College. Its name accurately depicts its standing as both a comprehensive community college and a core-driven technical college – the best of both worlds.
