A JOINT RESOLUTION Honoring William "Bill" Friday, President Emeritus of the University of North Carolina and the memory of william r. davie, chief founder of the university of north carolina.

Whereas, during the 1789 Session of the General Assembly, William R. Davie introduced legislation to establish the State's first public university; and
Whereas, North Carolina has an exceptional public university system as a result of the contributions made by individuals such as William R. Davie and William "Bill" Friday; and
Whereas, Bill Friday was born on July 13, 1920, in Raphine, Virginia, to David Friday and Mary Elizabeth Rowan Friday; and
Whereas, Bill Friday grew up in Dallas, North Carolina, and attended the Dallas public schools; and
Whereas, Bill Friday attended Wake Forest College for one year before entering North Carolina State College, today North Carolina State University, where he received a bachelors degree in textile engineering in 1941; and
Whereas, Bill Friday married Ida Howell of Lumberton, North Carolina, on May 13, 1942; and
Whereas, Bill Friday served as a lieutenant in the United States Naval Reserve during World War II; and
Whereas, after the war, Bill Friday enrolled in law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned his degree in 1948; and
Whereas, Bill Friday served as assistant dean of students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1948 until 1951, was appointed as the administrative assistant to Gordon Gray, the President of The University of North Carolina in 1951, and as Secretary of The University of North Carolina in 1955; and
Whereas, Bill Friday was made Acting President of The University of North Carolina in February of 1956 and named President in October of 1956; and
Whereas, Bill Friday led The University of North Carolina in its growth from three to six campuses during the first decade of his presidency and was elected to continue as President in 1971 after the General Assembly restructured The University of North Carolina to include all 16 of the State's public senior institutions of higher learning; and
Whereas, Bill Friday retired as President of The University of North Carolina after 30 years of service in 1986; and
Whereas, Bill Friday has served as an influential leader and member of numerous State and national committees, boards, and commissions, including the Carnegie Commission of Higher Education, North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, Center for Creative Leadership, North Carolina Institute of Politics, Kathleen Price and Joseph Bryan Family Foundation, American Council on Education, Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association, Kenan Transport Company, Coca‑Cola Scholars Foundation National Selection Committee, Knight Foundation National Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, Regional Literacy Center Commission, North Carolina Institute of Medicine, North Carolina Progress Board, North Carolina Commission on Rural Prosperity, and the North Carolina Golden L.E.A.F. Foundation; and
Whereas, Bill Friday served as the first Executive Director of the William R. Kenan, Jr., Charitable Trust, from 1986 to 1996; and
Whereas, Bill Friday has received many awards, including the American Council on Education Distinguished Service Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1986, the World Citizen Award in 1996, the National Humanities Medal in 1997, and the American Academy for Liberal Education Jacques Barzun Award in 1999; and
Whereas, many colleges and universities have paid tribute to Bill Friday by granting him an honorary degree, including Wake Forest University, Belmont Abbey College, Duke University, Princeton University, Elon University, Davidson College, University of Kentucky, Mercer University, Lenoir‑Rhyne College, St. Augustine's College, and Barton College; and
Whereas, Bill Friday has served as host of North Carolina People, a weekly television program on UNC‑TV, for 30 years and has remained an active member of his community; and
Whereas, it is especially fitting that Bill Friday, who has served the State well for many years, be acknowledged for his outstanding service to the State of North Carolina; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of William R. Davie for his role in founding The University of North Carolina.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly acknowledges and expresses its appreciation and gratitude to William "Bill" Friday for the contributions he has made to the State of North Carolina.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to Bill Friday.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 24th day of June, 2004.

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		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

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		 Richard T. Morgan
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives