By David Lazenby

davidl@cullmantimes.com

HANCEVILLE — State dignitaries, community leaders and Wallace State Community College officials crowded the lobby of the school’s Bailey Center Wednesday to get a sneak peak at plans for a future facility.

The college hosted a ceremony at which time it unveiled a model of the future Ottis and Evelyn Burrow Center for the Fine and Performing Arts.

Wallace State President Vicki Hawsey said a $1 million trust created by the Burrows made possible the facility that will be the new home to the Burrows’ $9.5 million art collection donated to the college in 2004.

Evelyn Burrow, the event’s guest of honor, said, “The fine arts is a wonderful thing. I hope they (students) get to enjoy them (art works) as much as I enjoyed collecting them.”

The collection, currently located at an annex of Wallace State on Country Road 222, contains more than 5,000 pieces from art and antiquity collected by the Burrows during their world travels.

Hawsey said the center, expected to open by the fall of 2009, would be ideal for events such as the upcoming Arts in April Week being held at the school April 15-19.

“We are ever grateful to you Mrs. Burrow, and to your husband, Ottis, for your generous gift,” Hawsey said during Wednesday’s commemoration.

“It makes perfect sense that a world-class institution like Wallace State would be home to a world-class exhibit,” said another speaker at the event, Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce President Kirk Mancer. “We truly are blessed to have a collection like this being held on this campus.”

Hanceville Mayor Katie Whitley discussed what a blessing Wallace State is to Hanceville during the event.

“Wallace State is one of the biggest assets to our city and our community,” she said, adding the school has a major impact on the local economy.

James Fields, the state House representative for District 12, agreed.

“We are blessed here in Hanceville to have such a place to build this fine facility,” Fields said.

Bradley Byrne, the chancellor for the Alabama Community College System, said the new art center will add to Wallace State’s leadership role in the community.

“This school is a leader in general education, it’s a leader in health education, it’s a leader in technical education, it’s a leader in athletics and now because of the generosity of the Burrows, it will be a leader in the arts,” Byrne said.

As a result of Burrow’s contributions, Hawsey said, “Her legacy will live on forever in the walls of Wallace State.”

In addition to recognizing the Burrows, Hawsey identified the project’s architect, Goodwin Mills and Caewood; the construction manager, HOAR construction, LLC; and the general contractor, Stone Building Company, Inc.

Hawsey said the facility had a false start that was quashed by the economic impact of Hurricane Katrina, a Category 5 hurricane that hit the gulf coast on Aug. 29, 2005, the same day as a groundbreaking ceremony for the arts center.

“Those two events became inextricably related,” Hawsey said. “We could not have anticipated the impact Katrina would have on our economy.”

Hawsey added construction-cost increases caused bids on the project to be 41 percent over the school’s budget for the building.

According to a Wallace State press release, the center, which will be located at the corner of Highway 31 and College Drive, will become the 42nd building on Wallace State’s 214-acre Hanceville campus.

The center will include a theater and recital hall, practice areas, studios, classrooms for music, art, and theater; and faculty offices.

Funding for the center and the art collection are not the only contributions made to Wallace State by the Burrows. They also helped facilitate the location of the 40 acres used to establish the George C. Wallace State Trade School of Cullman County, which would eventually become Wallace State Community College.