William C. Friday

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William Clyde "Bill" Friday was born on July 13, 1920 in Raphine, VA. He was raised in Dallas, NC. He served as the head of the University of North Carolina system from 1956 to 1986.

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.

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 1955 to 1957, when he was chosen as the new president.

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. When Friday recently endorsed Erskine Bowles as the new president of the University, it was seen as helping "seal the deal" for Bowles to get the post.

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