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William Friday




Friday graduated from Dallas High School in Dallas, NC, where he played baseball and basketball. He holds a bachelor's degree from North Carolina State University and a law degree from the University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill . Friday served in the United States Naval Reserve during World War II .

His entire professional life was spent in higher education. Friday was assistant dean of students at UNC-Chapel Hill from 1948 to 1951, assistant to President Gordon Gray from 1951 to 1955, then Secretary of the University, and acting president from 1956 to 1957, when he was chosen to take the position permanently.

Friday was the founding co-chairman of the Knight Foundation Commission On Intercollegiate Athletics . {Link without Title}

Today in retirement, Friday remains one of the state's most influential voices and hosts a public television talk show, ''North Carolina People'', which he began while still president of the University system. {Link without Title} When Friday endorsed Erskine Bowles as the new president of the University in 2006, it was seen as helping "seal the deal" for Bowles to get the post.

William C. Friday Middle School is located in Dallas, NC .


EXTERNAL LINKS



  Before Gordon Gray
  Title University Of North Carolina system president
  Years 1957 - 1986