Remembering Elson Floyd: From segregated North Carolina town to UNC to university president

Posted Jun 23, 2015
Floyd, the first black WSU president, grew up in segregated Henderson, North Carolina, on an unpaved street. “We couldn’t even afford paper when he started marking in the sand to add up numbers,” his mother, Dorothy Floyd, told The Spokesman-Review soon after Floyd was hired at WSU. “He always loved education."....Once Elson Floyd graduated from the University of North Carolina, he helped put his three brothers through school. (The Spokesman-Review)

Related: Campus Connections

Ghosts of UNC's past and present
Every October, the whispers of UNC’s past seem to echo a little louder. For decades, students and staff have swapped legends of spirits that are...
Mon Nov 3, 2025

Residents flock to spooktacular Halloween celebration on Franklin Street
Hundreds of people flocked to Franklin Street on Friday to celebrate Halloween in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The college town has been a popular spot...
Sat Nov 1, 2025

Interview with UNC Professor, Pulitzer Prize Winner Kathleen DuVal
Kathleen DuVal has a lot to say about early American history. Her latest book, Native Nations: A Millennium in North America, spans more than 700...
Fri Oct 31, 2025

'Halloweekend' in Chapel Hill, explained
Each year, the Town of Chapel Hill closes down Franklin Street for a massive impromptu parade. This tradition has been ongoing for decades and turnout...
Wed Oct 29, 2025