Menu

John Snipes, "Heelraiser" Driver, Passes Away After Battle With MS


One of the most beloved figures in Tar Heel Nation, the man behind the wheel of the infamous Heelraiser, passed away last week after a long battle with MS. John Lloyd Snipes was 52 years old. Born in Hillsborough, Snipes graduated from UNC in 1982 and lived for a time in Atlanta. But he returned to the Triangle in 2004—and in the process he picked up a 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood Hearse, painted it Carolina blue, added a few dozen tasteful touches, and a legend was born. (Chapelboro.com)

Related:

'You can't escape the story': UNC class feels for indentations on Old East left by enslaved laborers
A class of first-year students spent an hour carefully running their hands along the grooves of Old East's brick exterior. Their goal? To find...

Tasting the Town: The 'fryerarchy' of Chapel Hill
We have always said it is impossible to mess up french fries. However, we are also a proponent of the concept of a fry hierarchy...

Chapel Hill-Carrboro Openings, Closings and Updates in January-March 2026
Kipos Greek Taverna returned to operations in Eastgate Crossing after months of restoration following Chantal’s flooding last summer. Located in the back corner of the...

UNC Journalism School Takes Hearst Prize for 8th Consecutive Year
The University of North Carolina Hussman School of Journalism and Media won the overall intercollegiate first place title at the Hearst Journalism Awards Program’s Intercollegiate...