By Neil Offen
noffen@heraldsun.com; 419-6646
DURHAM -- In the landscaped island in front of N.C. Central University's Hoey Administration Building, a statue of university founder James Shep-ard stands tall on a marble base.
He's standing with a book in his right hand, his left hand by his pocket, and he's looking off into the distance, as if seeing the future.
Shepard not only saw the future, he helped create it, a series of speakers emphasized Friday at NCCU's 62nd annual Founder's Day Convocation. The morning ceremonies took on a particular resonance as they were part of the university's centennial celebration, honoring the school's founding by Shepard 100 years ago.
Back then, "Dr. Shepard could have ignored the increasingly bleak plight of blacks in the South, but he did not," Chancellor Charlie Nelms told a large crowd at McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium. "It was 1909, 100 years ago, and a shameful time. But he knew then what we all know now -- education is one of the keys to equality."
The ceremonies in honor of Shepard, who was born Nov. 3, 1875, were "a time to remember, reflect and recommit ourselves to [his] dream," said Ashlee Autry, the senior class president at NCCU. "Let us reflect on how fortunate we are to be a part of Dr. Shepard's dream."
The featured speaker for the convocation, Mattie Giles, a 1959 graduate of the school and a retired professor of social work, noted that "to understand and appreciate the full significance of the accomplishments of the man we honor today, we need to look at where we've come from. We need to recall the struggle" Shepard and others fought.
"All of us," she told the audience that included many members of her class as well as some of Shepard's descendants, "have benefited from the founder of this place."
She added that she hoped that all incoming students would "expose them themselves to the history of this great institution."
After a stirring rendition by NCCU's University and Centennial Choirs of "Hold On," the old spiritual that urged members of the civil rights movement to "keep their eye on the prize," faculty, staff, students and alumni headed to the Shepard statue for the ceremonial wreath-laying.
As he moved the wreath into place on a chilly, damp morning, Nelms noted that Shepard always saw bright skies in the future.
"We honor today an extraordinary individual who had vision, focus, passion and hope for humankind," the chancellor said.
