Bert Bennett, UNC alum and political power broker who helped shape NC’s moderate reputation, dies

Posted Jul 18, 2018
Bert L. Bennett Jr., who for 40 years was North Carolina’s most important Democratic Party power broker helping shape the state’s reputation for moderation, died Monday at age 97 in Pfafftown. Bennett, a Winston-Salem businessman, used his extensive statewide network to elevate Democrats Terry Sanford and Jim Hunt to the governor’s office. (Raleigh News & Observer)

Related: Campus Connections

Meet Sutton's Drug Store owner Don Pinney
Opened in 1923 by Lynwood and Lucy Sutton, Sutton's Drug Store was sold to Elliott Brummitt in 1965 with the understanding that the store wouldn’t...
Fri Feb 27, 2026

Carolina Covenant Documentary Wins Emmy
Chase Martin, assistant director of video for university development, and Jeyhoun Allebaugh, assistant director of photo and video for university development, accepted the best educational...
Wed Feb 25, 2026

When Every Second Counts: This UNC Device is Saving Lives
A breakthrough from UNC is helping frontline teams fight America’s drug crisis. Chemist Mike Ramsey’s research led to the MX908, a handheld mass spectrometer, that...
Sun Feb 22, 2026

Forbes Names Carolina to “Best Large Employer” List
The University of North Carolina is the top-ranked public institution in North Carolina on the Forbes 2026 Best Large Employer List released Tuesday. UNC is...
Sat Feb 21, 2026