This weekend marks a passage that all of us should note.

Tom Barton is retiring from the presidency of Greenville Technical College.

He retires as the longest serving president of a two-year college in the nation.

South Carolina's renowned technical education system was created in the early 1960's under the leadership of Gov. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings.

And when system leaders looked for a president for their Greenville center, they turned to a young educator and former Clemson football player named Tom Barton.

For the last 46 years, Dr. Barton has led the development of Greenville Tech from one building to the large campus along Pleasantburg Drive.

Other campuses have been built in Greer, the Golden Strip and the Northwest area.

Barton has overseen the development of a college that has helped educate two generations of students.

He worked with local industrial recruiters to develop and provide training programs that has prepared workers for the new industries that have located here in the last half century.

And through it all -- his tenacity and drive have made Greenville Technical College one of the best at what it does.

It won't seem right to not see Tom Barton prowling the halls of Greenville Tech.

But as he leaves, Barton's legacy of education and growth remains, setting the tone for years to come.

We suspect in retirement, Dr. Barton will take more pride in that than the many honors which have come his way.