In 1961, the Technical Education System in South Carolina began. In 1963, the
South Carolina General Assembly created the Horry-Georgetown Commission for Technical Education. Horry-Marion-Georgetown Technical Education Center began with 123 students in 1966. In 1975, the name changed to Horry-Georgetown Technical College as a result of growth and changed emphasis. Horry-Georgetown Technical College now serves
Horry and
Georgetown Counties, while
Marion County is served by
Florence-Darlington Technical College. In 2000, as buildings were torn down at the former
Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, HGTC claimed the Officers Club and Non-Commissioned Officers Club. The former base
hospital became the Dr. Robert E. Speir Jr. Health Education Center on the Myrtle Beach campus, which held its grand opening July 11, 2008. In 2009, HGTC announced the center would get a addition for
dental programs. The $7.4 million facility was substantially complete when Myrtle Beach City Council toured it May 8, 2012. On June 15, 2012, the dedication of the Fred Fore Wildlife Pavilion was held at the Georgetown campus. Fore served as president of
Florence-Darlington Technical College for 29 years, and his wife Marilyn Fore, the current HGTC President, worked to develop the pavilion as a
forestry classroom. ==References==