DOBSON — Clark Goings, who recently filled the seat left vacant by the death of Jeff Hall, has filed for election to the Surry County Schools Board of Education.

Goings, 63, has filed for the district five seat representing the Bryan and Franklin townships. After receiving the appointment from the board to fill the seat, Goings decided to pursue a more permanent position on the board.

“The confidence the board put in me to appoint me to start with influenced my decision. You couldn’t work for a greater group of people,” said Goings. “My concern is the children. I think there’s going to be new challenges in the future and I hope I can help with that.”

Goings has six grandchildren attending school in the Surry County system. His daughter is a teacher in the school system and his son-in-law is a principal.

“I certainly have an interest in them,” he said.

Goings is a life-long resident of Surry County, attending Surry County Schools and graduating from North Surry High School in 1965. He graduated from Forsyth Technical Community College and served in the U.S. Army for two years before receiving an honorable discharge.

He worked for three years as the assistant programs director for the N.C. Department of Corrections and for 36 years as an insurance agent for NC Farm Bureau, Southern Farm Bureau Life and Blue Cross-Blue Shield of NC. He also served for 25 years as a member of the Surry Telephone Membership Corporation Board of Directors.

He has served as past president, vice president, secretary and treasurer for the Beulah Ruritan Club. He has volunteered to judge the Surry County Schools science fair for the past 15 years and served on the North Surry board for three years.

“I have a background in serving on boards. I do have experience working with people and on boards,” he said when he found out he was appointed to temporarily fill the seat.

The seat for district five will be up for election again in 2012, the end of the seat’s term.