Mr. John W. Henry, Jr. – President (1979-1985) & Director (1977-1979) – Mr. John W. Henry, Jr. was the first person in the College’s history to be given the title president. In 1979, the William L. McDuffie Student Life Center was erected in his name and in 1985, the Thomas N. Rhoad Dining Hall was erected.
In 1979, Mr. Henry led the first accreditation process and the college became fully accredited by the Southern Association of College and Schools. On January 1, 1979, the College gained membership in the SACSCOC.
Upon completion of its accreditation, the school transitioned from Denmark Technical Education Center to its current name, Denmark Technical College.
Mr. Henry led the campaign to change the name of State Road S-5-542 to Solomon Blatt Blvd., in honor of former South Carolina Speaker House.
The college started implementing new technology-based degree programs to its curriculum, including secretarial science, nuclear engineering technology, electronics technology and engineering graphics technology.
