Honored: 2013 Heritage Calendar Unveiled

HONOREE JOSEPH MCNEIL, NATIVE OF WILMINGTON, POSES WITH A T AND T NORTH CAROLINA REGIONAL DIRECTOR JOHN LYON

RALEIGH  — AT&T unveiled its heritage calendar last Wednesday night, which celebrated North Carolina’s African-American experience.

Among the honorees were Former Wake County Sheriff John Haywood Baker Jr., Former Raleigh Mayor Tom Bradshaw Retired Congresswoman Eva Clayton, Justice Henry Frye and his wife Shirley Frye, Clarence Edward “Big House Gaines Sr., The Greensboro Four—Jibreel Khazan, Frank McCain, Joseph McNeil and David Richmond; Gov. James B, Hunt, Jr.,  and  Dean Smith.  For a listing of all the honorees and their biographies visit http://ncheritagecalendar.com/.

“The inaugural honorees are all incredible role models and have made a lasting difference in their relative fields and communities, excelling in such areas as education, public service, civil rights,  sports, arts, and law enforcement,” said AT&T North Carolina President Cynthia Marshall. “It is our hope that this calendar will serve as a tribute to their tremendous integrity, commitment and dedication to enhancing the lives of African Americans throughout North Carolina’s rich history.”

Hundreds attended a gala for the honorees inside the Progress Energy Center for Performing Arts in Raleigh.

Honorees like Joseph McNeil, who was one of four North Carolina A&T students and native of Wilmington  who launched the lunch counter sit-ins in Greensboro, sparked a nationwide movement. “We’re people of conscious and ordinary people can make a difference,” said McNeil.