William Friday
| William C. Friday | |
|---|---|
Friday in 1961
|
|
| Born |
William Clyde Friday July 13, 1920 Raphine, Virginia |
| Died | October 12, 2012 (aged 92) Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Bill Friday |
| Alma mater |
North Carolina State University University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Occupation | Educator, TV Host |
| Known for | 1st President of the University of North Carolina System |
| Term | 1956-1986 |
| Predecessor | J. Harris Purks |
| Successor | C.D. Spangler |
| Spouse(s) | Ida Howell Friday |
William Clyde "Bill" Friday (July 13, 1920 – October 12, 2012) was an American educator who served as the head of the University of North Carolina system from 1956 to 1986. He was born in Raphine, Virginia and raised in Dallas, North Carolina.
Friday graduated from Dallas High School in Dallas, North Carolina, where he played baseball and basketball. He held a bachelor's degree in textile manufacturing from North Carolina State University and a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While attending NCSU, Friday was elected president of the senior class of 1941. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. Friday served in the United States Navy Reserve during World War II.
His entire professional life was spent in higher education. Friday was assistant dean of students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1948 to 1951, assistant to the President of the Consolidated University of North Carolina Gordon Gray from 1951 to 1955, then Secretary of the University of North Carolina system, and acting president of the system from 1956 to 1957, when he was chosen to take the position permanently. Friday would remain in this position until retiring in 1986.
Friday was the founding co-chairman of the Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics and served in this role from 1989 to 2005.
After retirement, Friday remained an influential voice in North Carolina and hosted a public television talk show, North Carolina People, which he began while still president of the University system. In 2012, the show began its 42nd season. 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.
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