Textile Management Degree Begins Lifelong
Career for Johnston Industries Manager

CONTACT: MARTY ODUM (334) 298-9351

FOR RELEASE BEFORE OR DURING TEXTILE WEEK

PENDLETON --- It was by pure accident that Marty Odum ended up in the textile management technology classroom at Tri-County Technical College back in the mid-80's.

When a Clemson University recruiter visited his physics class at Pickens High School to talk about career opportunities in textiles, Odum was working weekends at Alice Manufacturing Company, but had already applied for admission to Clemson and was planning to study engineering in the fall.

Several weeks later, he had a conversation with Pete Henry, currently vice president of manufacturing at Mayfair Mills in Arcadia and a 1976 graduate of Tri-County's textile management program, who talked to Odum about the textile scholarship program at Tech, and instantly Odum's career path changed.

"It all just clicked after talking to Pete," said Odum, who, three degrees later, is greige operations manager for Johnson Industries in Georgia. "Pete was instrumental in my choosing textiles because of our discussion concerning the tremendous opportunities in the field."

Each year since 1973, tri-county textile firms have sponsored scholarships to cover the cost of tuition, books and fees for two years of textile management study at Tri-County. Twenty-two scholarships will be awarded at the College's 27th annual banquet set for October 11 to kick off Textile Week.

Odum attended Tri-County on a scholarship, and he became so interested in textiles that his job at Alice expanded to a full-time, third-shift position, which he says worked very well with Tri-County's schedule. "It was perfect. I could work second or third shift and attend morning classes. The professors and the college were very accommodating."

Although the schedule could be grueling, Odum says "back then it didn't seem like a big deal because everybody was on that schedule. Most textile students worked second or third shift.

"The coursework was practical. I received a good technical base at Tri-County," he said. "The professors discussed each manufacturing process and the properties of the end products produced. They had extensive textile industry experience, and they related that experience to the classroom."

Odum graduated in 1987 and was one of the first three textile students to transfer to Clemson University where he earned a textile science degree in 1990. He earned his master's in textile science from ITT in 1992. "It made sense to continue my education by taking advantage of the opportunities available," he said. "My textile education has provided the skills to build a rewarding career. I have been very fortunate that each place I have attended, someone took the time to be a mentor."

He has been employed at Johnson Industries for eight years and since February 1998 has served in his present position whereby he manages around 400 associates.

"The industry has changed dramatically in the last 16 years and is now one of the most modern manufacturing industries in the world. Companies are automated with highly skilled associates. It is a global industry and through the course of doing business, I have traveled throughout Europe, meeting customers and suppliers. I can't think of any other career where I could do that. I am very thankful, and Tech got the ball rolling for me," said Odum.
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