Individual Most Historically Influential ON North Carolina?

[donbosco]

Some possibilities…

Edward Kidder Graham

Frank Porter Graham

Jesse Helms

Jim Hunt

Dean Smith

Kerr Scott

Zebulon Vance

Billy Graham

Furnifold Simmons

Nathaniel Macon

Others? I am sure I am missing some candidates.

 

[finesse]

Terry Sanford belongs on that list.

 

[mpaer]

I will go with a boring answer with relative recency bias
Jim Hunts Smart Start was and still is a big deal for tens of thousands of poor kids

 

[donbosco]

It is significant that that list is comprised of only white males. I’ve pondered both women and POC to add.

There’s also only one person on that list not born in NC. I’d say transplants are eligible but others might disagree.

 

[Ramrouser]

What about MJ?

 

[donbosco]

Terry Sanford is worth consideration for sure.

Not native then Moses Cone or R.J. Reynolds.

That brings around to George Washington Duke or his son Buck.

 

[finesse]

Terry Sanford is worth consideration for sure.

Not native then Moses Cone or R.J. Reynolds.

That brings around to George Washington Duke or his son Buck.

I don't like to consider drug dealers and their legacy. Too many deaths and disgraces.

 

[OldWHEEL]

I’m not from NC but did any women or people of color have any influence?

 

[donbosco]

Well, I understand influential as a “for good or ill” measure.

 

[Zoo_View]

Jesse Helms and it isn’t close.

His impact on North Carolina resonates today.

His impact on America resonates today.

He’s the most impactful North Carolinian.

 

[wmheel1287]

I think y'all are discounting Phil Berger's grotesque influence on modern North Carolina.

 

[lawtig02]

I’m not from NC but did any women or people of color have any influence?

Julius Chambers would be high on my list.

Julius Chambers's Biography

Check out this story from The HistoryMakers featuring Julius Chambers

www.thehistorymakers.org

 

[Zoo_View]

The most important and impactful North Carolinian is a racist SOB.

 

[Zoo_View]

Julius Chambers would be high on my list.

Julius Chambers's Biography

Check out this story from The HistoryMakers featuring Julius Chambers

www.thehistorymakers.org

He’d matter……if not for Helms, the Congressional Club, Reagan’s ‘76 Republican Primary……etc.

 

[sringwal]

Sir Walter Raleigh
James K. Polk

 

[donbosco]

Sir Walter Raleigh

Hmmm...If Raleigh, then why not Queen Elizabeth I?

 

[Icky Mettle]

I think y'all are discounting Phil Berger's grotesque influence on modern North Carolina.

In that same vein, even though he hasn’t been chief justice for very long, Paul Newby’s stint as chief justice of the NCSC thus far has been highly consequential. I guess one could argue that it’s not all him; that it takes at least three more justices, but he’s the leader of the pack.

 

[gtyellowjacket]

Hmmm...If Raleigh, then why not Queen Elizabeth I?

Those are both pretty good ones.

 

[gtyellowjacket]

Andrew Jackson for his expulsion of the Cherokee in Western NC, his expansion of Democracy to poorer Americans, and his actions to delay the civil war.

Andrew Johnson for his mismanagement of reconstruction.

I'd say Jackson because of his expansion of Democracy that he hasn't gotten enough credit for lately. But in generations past, his legacy was up there in the realm of Jefferson and Madison.

 

[donbosco]

Raleigh and Queen Elizabeth I: Probably the two most influential to never visit.