Visible to All: Mars Hill College’s Student Government Association Secures New Highway Sign

WRITTEN BY: PATRICK CASH

January 15, 1966: Visitors to Mars Hill College in 1966 were greeted by a new green and reflective street signed which was installed at the intersection of Highway 36 and U.S. 19-23, roughly 2 miles south of campus. The new sign was contributed to the hard work of Mars Hill College’s Student Government Association’s Traffic Committee and committee chair Bob Hoots. Members of the SGA began growing concerned over the difficulty in which new students and their families were often having when it came to finding their way to campus.

Hoping to find a solution to the issue, SGA leadership tasked Hoots, a sophomore at Mars Hill, and his committee to look into the problem. Hoots responded by contacting James G. Strikeleather, the 13^th District Highway Commissioner, and explained the concerns of the SGA. Mr. Strikeleather promised Hoots that new signage would be installed, and that further improvements to the roadways surrounding Mars Hill would be forthcoming. The SGA’s Traffic Committee consisted of Bob Hoots, Martha Penley, Susan Webster, Jerri Beck, Ken Maynor, and Jackie Mitchell. The Traffic Committee was also responsible for studying the traffic laws and fees of other colleges and planning new effort to promote campus traffic safety.

SGA Traffic Committee Chairman Bob Hoots polishes the new Mars Hill College Highway Sign