Emmie Evans Rector graduated from Winthrop College with a BS degree in physical education
in January of 1949. She began her teaching career at Spartanburg High School for 6
years and followed her public school experience with two one year teaching appointments
at Madison College and the University of Georgia. She found her home when she began
teaching at Limestone College in Gaffney, SC.
Emmie Rector had a long and distinguished teaching career at Limestone College. She spend 32 years on the faculty and was named a Professor Emerita of Health and Physical Education in 1990. In 1998 she was inducted into the Limestone College Athletic Hall of Fame for her contributions to the Athletic Department. These contributions included serving as the volleyball coach, founding the Alpha Gamma Epsilon Athletic Sorority, and having the tennis pavilion at the college named the Emmie Evans Rector Tennis Pavilion in 2002. In 1987, she was named a College Honorary Alumna and in 1990 the College presented her with a Limestone College Lifetime Athletic Pass. Always a student proponent, she and her husband established the James W. Rector, Jr. and Emmie Evans Rector Scholarship in 1994 and established a restricted tennis fund. Students acknowledged her impact by dedicating the 1965 and 1978 yearbooks in her honor.
While at Limestone, she served as President of the South Carolina Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (1968) and remained active in the profession throughout her career. Although professionally active, she found time to work with the Gaffney Meals on Wheels Golf Committee, Cherokee County American Red Cross, Cherokee Historical and Preservation Society, and the Gaffney Country Club. She was a life long supporter of the Midway Presbyterian Church.
Emmie Evans married James W. Rector on May 27, 1973. She enjoyed traveling with her husband to all the 50 states along with trips to Canada, Cuba, and South America. One of her proudest accomplishments was a Hole in One on March 3, 1974 at the Cherokee National Golf Course. Emmie Rector had fond memories of her days at Winthrop the many good friends she made, the Saturday Night Movies, the Daisy Chain, and the Blue Line.