A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of dr. James Preston Green, sr., a physician and former member of the north carolina house of representatives.

Whereas, James Preston Green was born on May 11, 1925, in Henderson, North Carolina, to William and Annie Henderson Green; and
Whereas, James Preston Green received his early education at Central Graded School, graduated high school from Henderson Institute in 1944, and earned a bachelor's of science degree from Johnson C. Smith University, graduating cum laude in 1948; and
Whereas, from 1948‑1951, James Preston Green taught biology at Warren County Training School in Wise, North Carolina, and also worked for the Rural Electrification Program, where he sold electricity service and home appliances; and
Whereas, James Preston Green enrolled at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1951, and received his doctor of medicine in 1955; and
Whereas, Dr. Green completed his internship at Kate B. Reynolds Hospital in Winston‑Salem, North Carolina, from 1955‑1956, and subsequently served on the medical staff at Lakin State Psychiatric Hospital in West Virginia; and
Whereas, Dr. Green was commissioned as a captain in the United States Army and served for two years as a physician in Medical Services at Landstuhl Second General Army Hospital in Germany; and
Whereas, upon his return to the United States, Dr. Green served on staff for one year at Good Samaritan Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina; and
Whereas, Dr. Green began his long tenure as a dedicated physician in his hometown of Henderson in 1960; and
Whereas, Dr. Green served as chief of staff at Jubilee Hospital until 1966, and subsequently became a charter member of the staff at Maria Parham Hospital, where he was chief of staff from 1972‑1973, and retained medical privileges until his retirement in 2003; and
Whereas, Dr. Green also opened a private practice on Horner Street in 1960, and started the Beckford Avenue Medical Center in 1968, where he treated patients often without pay and always without regard to race, age, or economic status; and
Whereas, Dr. Green was instrumental in bringing other dedicated physicians to the Henderson area, including Dr. James Kenney, who came to work at the Beckford Avenue Medical Center in 1972 and continues to practice there, and he demonstrated his dedication to providing medical care to the area's disenfranchised, impoverished, and elderly citizens by establishing HealthCo., a rural health clinic in Soul City, North Carolina; co‑founding Pine Crest Manor Nursing and Rest Home in 1972; and helping to organize E. E. Toney Rest Home in Oxford, North Carolina; and
Whereas, Dr. Green was the quintessential "country doctor" who, in addition to his regular practice at the Beckford Avenue Medical Center, made house calls, delivered hundreds of babies, performed surgeries, and responded to emergency calls, including one that required him to be lowered into a collapsed tungsten mine to administer lifesaving medication and care to a trapped worker; and
Whereas, Dr. Green's concern for the welfare of others and his commitment to public service led him to seek elected office; and
Whereas, Dr. Green was the first African‑American elected to the City Council of the City of Henderson and served in this capacity as a member for eight years; served as Democratic Party Chairman for the 2nd Congressional District for many years; and was President of the Vance County Voter's League and, in that capacity, played a significant part in increasing the number of registered African‑American voters in the county from 500 to 5,000 during the League's inaugural voter registration drive; and
Whereas, Dr. Green was appointed by Governor James B. Hunt to serve in the North Carolina House of Representatives in 1989 to fulfill an unexpired term and was subsequently elected to serve two terms, during which time he used his unique position as "the only doctor in the House" to advance his passion for quality health care for every person in the State and his unwavering quest for equality for every human being; and
Whereas, while serving in the House of Representatives, Dr. Green was Chairman of the Human Resources Subcommittee on Aging and was a member of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Crops and Animal Husbandry; Appropriations Subcommittee on Justice and Public Safety; Commerce Subcommittee on Housing; Education Subcommittee on Community Colleges; and Legislative and Local Redistricting; and
Whereas, Dr. Green was one of the first legislators to sponsor a bill providing financial assistance to seniors who could not afford prescription medicines and, for his effort to address this emerging need in our State, he was commended in 2002 by the Office of Governor Michael F. Easley at a ceremony at Maria Parham Hospital in Henderson, North Carolina; and
Whereas, Dr. Green served with distinction on numerous boards and commissions, including as chairman of the Governor's Sickle Cell Council for 10 years; president and member of the Old North State Medical Society; and as a member of the Governor's Commission on Fluoridation, the North Carolina Health Care Reform Commission, the North Carolina Mental Health Association, and the National Medical Association, which recently honored him for 50 years of membership and service; and
Whereas, Dr. Green received many awards for his tireless efforts to serve and care for the citizens of the City of Henderson and the State of North Carolina, including the Order of the Long Leaf Pine – the highest civilian award made by the Governor; a Doctor of Humane Letters from North Carolina Central University in 2001 and Johnson C. Smith University in 2002; status as a diplomate of the American Academy of Family Practitioners; the Leadership and Service Award from the Governor's Sickle Cell Council in 1984; the Small Businessman of the Year Award in 1972 from Governor Robert W. Scott; and recognition as the "longest practicing physician" by Maria Parham Hospital in Henderson; and
Whereas, in addition to being a skilled physician and conscientious legislator, Dr. Green was also a visionary and an inventor, who used his experience in treating alcoholics to create a product known as Vitaquil to help minimize the adverse effects of drinking; and
Whereas, Dr. Green was a member and an elder of Cotton Memorial Presbyterian Church, a life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a life member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity; and
Whereas, Dr. Green died on May 19, 2006; and
Whereas, Dr. Green was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Carolyn Marie Smith Green; a loving father to his three children, Attorney James Preston Green, Jr. (deceased), Isaac Hughes Green, Sr., and Carolyn Annette Green Boone, J.D.; a doting grandfather to his 10 grandchildren; a caring and dutiful brother to his siblings; and a loyal friend to many; Now, therefore,

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

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the life of Dr. James Preston Green, Sr., a physician and former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, for his dedication to providing quality medical care to the citizens of the City of Henderson and the surrounding communities for over 40 years, and for his commitment to serving the people of this State.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly extends sympathy to the family of Dr. James Preston Green, Sr., for the loss of a beloved family member.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the family of Dr. James Preston Green, Sr.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 25th day of July, 2007.

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		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

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		 Joe Hackney
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives