Members of the TVCC board of trustees, foundation board, administration, faculty, and staff joined Frank Johns today in a private ceremony to break ground on a 47-foot clock tower that will be the newest addition to the Bob McDonald Plaza in 2019.

The custom designed Ethel May & Frank Johns Tower, designed and built by Verdin, will include four ornamental bell shells and an electronic carillon system providing the ability to program a variety of different chimes, tolling bells and hour strike tones.  The clock tower will have four-sided illuminated dials, allowing the time to be visible from all sides.

Johns donated $350,000 for the project that has a planned completion of fall 2019.

Johns’ wife, Ethel, passed away in May 2018 and donating to build this clock tower provides a tangible way to honor her memory.

“I hope this clock tower becomes an icon on the TVCC campus,” said Johns. “It’s going to be beautiful and Ethel would be proud.”