Scholarship Honors Legacy of One of RichmondCC's First Employees

July 2, 2026 - Family and friends of the late J.C. Lamm gathered Tuesday at Richmond Community College in the Student Lounge bearing his name to honor Mr. Lamm’s long history with the college and to continue the legacy of a man devoted to education.

The RichmondCC Foundation announced the establishment of the J.C. Lamm Endowed Scholarship by Lamm’s son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Leslie Lamm, along with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In 1965, Lamm became one of the first three employees for Richmond Technical Institute (RTI), which was the college’s name when it was established in April 1964. He was hired to be the Director of Student Personnel.

Lamm worked for the college for 17½ years, retiring as Director of Student Services in 1982. He continued to support education by serving on the college’s Board of Trustees for 20 years and the Richmond County Board of Education for 12 years. He also was a Richmond County Commissioner for a term.

“From RichmondCC’s earliest days, Mr. Lamm helped shape its vision, values and commitment to student success. Few individuals have left a more lasting impression on RichmondCC than Mr. Lamm,” President Brent Barbee said.

Lamm’s remarkable contributions to RichmondCC were recognized with the naming of the J.C. Lamm Student Lounge and later the J.C. Lamm Student Center & Café, an extension to the Student Lounge. In 2018, Lamm was selected as the Foundation’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year and honored that year at the annual Gala.

Dr. Dale McInnis, former RichmondCC president, was asked to speak at the scholarship ceremony, having served all 14 years of his presidency under the guidance of Lamm.

“Mr. Lamm spent a lifetime serving the people of Richmond County, building and nurturing our college and its students. His legacy of kindness, courage and compassion will live on through the standards he set for the college and this endowment to support the students he loved so much,” McInnis said.

Lamm’s granddaughter, Kary Edmondson, spoke on behalf of the family. Edmondson is the Dean of K-12 Partnerships at RichmondCC.

“One of the greatest honors of my life has been following in his footsteps. I’ve spent the last 26 years at Richmond Community College, and I feel an incredible sense of pride knowing I’ve spent my career at a place that meant so much to him,” she said.

Before there was a campus with buildings and well before Richmond Community College became what it is today, Lamm moved his family to Richmond County because he believed in the vision of what this college could become.

“He saw education as a way to change lives, open doors, and create opportunities for students. That wasn’t just his job, it was who he was,” Edmondson said. “Growing up, we didn’t just hear him talk about education, we watched him dedicate his life to it. He cared about people and wanted every student to have the opportunity to succeed.”

While Lamm helped build RichmondCC from the ground up, Edmondson said her grandfather’s integrity, kindness, humility and dedication also shaped their family.

“He was my grandaddy, and he is still one of the greatest men I’ve ever known,” she said. “Every student who receives this scholarship will become part of his legacy. I can't think of a more fitting tribute to the man he was and the legacy he leaves behind.”

There are many ways to give to the RichmondCC Foundation and provide life-changing support to students. Contact Dr. Wendy Kelly Jordan, Associate Vice President of Development, at (910) 410-1807 or wkjordan@richmondcc.edu.