GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1991 SESSION
RATIFIED BILL

RESOLUTION 5
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 208

A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE FOUNDERS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL AND TECHNICAL STATE UNIVERSITY AT GREENSBORO AND URGING THE GOVERNOR TO ISSUE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE UNIVERSITY'S CENTENNIAL.

Whereas, the people of North Carolina are deeply indebted to the North Carolina General Assembly of 1891 and other leaders of just over a century ago whose vision created on March 9, 1891, the Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race, now known as the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; and
Whereas, special honor is accorded the memory of black legislators, James O'Hara and John A. White and black editor, Charles N. Hunter for their superb work as advocates to establish a State college for blacks; and
Whereas, a bill to establish a college for blacks was introduced in the General Assembly on March 5, 1891, by Senator John Bellamy of Wilmington, North Carolina; and
Whereas, the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University was established as the Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race by an act of the General Assembly of North Carolina on March 9, 1891; and
Whereas, in creating the Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race, the General Assembly provided that a sum of $2,500 be annually appropriated to sustain the college; and
Whereas, on March 23, 1891, the Agricultural and Mechanical Board of Trustees accepted the City of Greensboro's offer of $11,000 and 14 acres of land to locate the college in Greensboro; and
Whereas, the Agricultural and Mechanical College, led by President Dr. J.O. Crosby, opened its doors to 37 students in the fall of 1893; and
Whereas, from that humble beginning, the school has developed into the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, with 6,500 students, and by outstanding academic programs and research acumen, the University has rendered service to the State and the nation for 100 years, and it is widely respected as one of the foremost historically black universities in the nation; and
Whereas, the University's strength has been the discovering and development of talent in thousands of young people, and the channeling of this talent into creative endeavors; and
Whereas, the graduates and former students of A & T State University continue to achieve national and international prominence in a number of career fields; and
Whereas, the University, through its Chancellor, faculty, staff, administrative team, students, Board of Trustees, Board of Visitors, and alumni, has developed an inspired Long Range Plan and Vision statement to move the University confidently into the 21st Century;

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

Section 1.  The General Assembly recognizes and honors the founders of the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University for its vision, commends the University for its contributions to North Carolina and its people, extends congratulations on the occasion of the institution's Centennial celebration, and eagerly anticipates a second century of service by the University on behalf of the people of North Carolina and the nation.
Sec. 2.  In order to recognize further the Centennial celebration of the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the General Assembly urges the Governor to issue a proclamation commemorating the founding of the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University on March 9, 1891.
Sec. 3.  The Secretary of State shall send a certified copy of this resolution to Edward B. Fort, the eighth chief executive officer of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and the third to hold the title as its Chancellor, and to Governor James G. Martin.
Sec. 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 11th day of March, 1991.

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	James C. Gardner
	President of the Senate

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	Daniel Blue, Jr.
	Speaker of the House of Representatives