Belmont Technical College Foundation

A Window of Opportunity

Starring Roy Underhill

"Trees are evil," Roy Underhill joked. "They must be punished." And with a cheshire grin on his face, he swung the axe into the log -- spewing wood chips into the audience of over 180 people at Belmont Technical College .

For 26 years, Roy Underhill has been teaching the American public. When he came to Belmont Technical College he continued teaching, but this time his main message was the importance of community and technical colleges in preserving the traditional trades - as well as the proper way to chop down a tree.

Underhill was on campus to speak to the large crowd of BTC friends, community members and college leaders at the annual signature event hosted by the Belmont Technical College Foundation. This year's theme centered around the "Window of Opportunity" that Belmont Technical College provides for the communities it serves. Underhill's connection to the college was established last year at the International Trades and Preservation Workshop where he was a keynote speaker and a presenter.

Although his background is in history and the traditional trades his presentation revolved around the importance of education and the convention of passing things down through the ages.

" Roy 's love is teaching," said David Mertz, Associate Professor of Building Preservation and Restoration at Belmont Technical College . "He loves spreading the word about craftsmanship and historic preservation."

Underhill has also authored seven woodworking books and has served as a master craftsman at Colonial Williamsburg for seventeen years. He has advised museums in restoration and interpretation around the United States and Europe; and has degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University .

Horizon Hall was filled with attendees for this invitation only event. The college honored its donors and celebrated a year of increasing endowments and donations. While Underhill talked about history and the past he also praised the BTC Building Preservation and Restoration program and the future of BTC.

"Education gives us a toolbox in our hands and a toolbox in our heads," said Underhill. He also reflected on his time spent on campus last year and noted that the energy and enthusiasm of the students, faculty and staff was contagious.

"I was compelled to return to Belmont Technical College because of the spirit of its students," he said.

His main objective, however, when talking to groups of people is to infuse them with excitement for history and the traditional trades.as well as teaching them something along the way. He claims that woodworking is the perfect way to "transform nature into culture."

"Americans make stuff, they love to make stuff," he said. "Americans grew up working hard and everything has a story to it."