NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1981 SESSION

RESOLUTION 1981-38

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 1227

A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF THOMAS J. PEARSALL.

Whereas, Thomas J. Pearsall was born February 11, 1903, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, graduated from Rocky Mount High School and received both his undergraduate and his law degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and

Whereas, he served with distinction in the North Carolina General Assembly from 1941 to 1947, serving as Speaker of the House of Representatives during the 1947 Session; and

Whereas, he was interested and active in community and State affairs throughout his entire professional life, serving as a member of the Chamber of Commerce, as a member of such various boards and commissions of statewide importance as the Roanoke Historical Association, the North Carolina State Agriculture Foundation, the North Carolina A & T University Board of Trustees, The University of North Carolina Board of Governors, and as a leading force in the founding of North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount; and

Whereas, he was appointed to many other positions which enabled him to serve the people of North Carolina, in particular, to the chairmanship of the "Pearsall Commission" which completed plans for the total integration of North Carolina schools during the Hodges Administration; and

Whereas, his leadership was largely responsible for greatly increasing opportunities for blacks in North Carolina; and

Whereas, former Governor Terry Sanford said of him that "he had imagination and vision, compassion and concern and, above all, courage to do and say what he thought in difficult times, and the North Carolina Press said of him that he never wanted one school door closed, one tuition grant withheld or one black child hurt and that he never acted contrary to what he believed best; and

Whereas, he is survived by his widow, Elizabeth Braswell Pearsall and two sons, Mack B. Pearsall of Rocky Mount and Thomas J. Pearsall, Jr., of Raleigh;

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

Section 1. That the General Assembly of North Carolina remember and honor Thomas J. Pearsall for his long and faithful service to all the people of North Carolina, and for his outstanding leadership in difficult times, and express its sympathy to his family and friends.

Sec. 2. A certified copy of this resolution shall be sent to Thomas J. Pearsall's family.

Sec. 3. This resolution is effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 12th day of June, 1981.