A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of frank howe mcduffie, sr., and sammie sellers mcduffie, north carolina educators, humanitarians, coaches, civil rights leaders, and recognizing the establishment and work of the laurinburg normal and industrial institute, inc.

Whereas, on September 15, 1904, Emmanuel M. McDuffie and his wife, Tinny Etheridge McDuffie, came from Alabama to Laurinburg, North Carolina, responding to the call of Dr. Booker T. Washington of the Tuskegee Institute and William Edwards of the Snow Hill Institute to help to provide "suitable education and training in the common pursuits of life for the black people of the area"; and
Whereas, on September 15, 1906, Emmanuel M. McDuffie, J. H. Davis, and Robert Leach incorporated the Laurinburg Normal and Industrial Institute at Laurinburg, North Carolina, for "the instruction of colored teachers and youth in the various common, academic, and collegiate branches, the best methods of teaching the same, and the best methods of theoretical and practical industry in their application to agriculture and the mechanics arts"; and
Whereas, upon the death of the Emmanuel M. McDuffie, Sr., his son Dr. Frank H. McDuffie, Sr., became the President of the Laurinburg Institute and his wife, Sammie Sellers McDuffie, its Principal, and together they built a new campus, integrated the faculty and student body, developed its foreign student program, and built and coached a worldwide recognized athletic and music program; and
Whereas, Frank and Sammie McDuffie were the recipients of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and various other awards and accolades; and
Whereas, some of the alumni of the Laurinburg Institute alumni played pivotal roles in integrating athletic teams and the university systems of the South, including Charlie Scott who played basketball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and John Russell who served as a referee; and
Whereas, the Laurinburg Institute provided total secondary educational facilities to black boys and girls in Scotland County for more than 50 years; and
Whereas, the Laurinburg Institute provides its students with special training in numerous technical fields as well as providing and nurturing thousands to "Work hard, stand up, be somebody, be the best"; and
Whereas, Frank and Sammie McDuffie and the Laurinburg Institute have provided invaluable services to the people of the area, as well as educational services to black people from the State, the region, and foreign countries; and 
Whereas, the Laurinburg Institute could not have survived and developed without the vision, dedication, and devotion of Frank and Sammie McDuffie; Now, therefore,

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

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of Dr. Frank H. McDuffie, Sr., and Sammie Sellers McDuffie for the service they rendered and recognizes and expresses its profound appreciation for their contributions to Eastern North Carolina and the State of North Carolina.
SECTION 2.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Dr. Frank H. McDuffie and Sammie Sellers McDuffie.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 28th day of July, 2005.

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	 Marc Basnight
	 President Pro Tempore of the Senate

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	 Richard T. Morgan
	 Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives