Preserving Our History: Rotary Club of Greensboro
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Oral history interview with Chester "Trip" Brown, Jr.
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Chester "Trip" Brown, Jr. (1940 - present) is a prominent business owner and has been a member of the Greensboro Rotary Club, since February 1, 1989. Brown's family moved to Greensboro from Asheville, North Carolina, when he was nine years old. He received his bachelor's degree in business from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and then joined the military. After serving in the Army, Brown applied and was accepted to Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma. Brown received his master's degree from Wharton Business School in 1965, then moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, and began working for Cameron Brown Company, which was owned by his uncle. In 1971, Brown moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, to work at Charter Properties. He worked for Charter Properties until the death of his uncle in 1979, after which he returned to Greensboro with his family to assist with his family's business. Brown and his family continue to live in Greensboro.
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Oral history interview with Walter Burch
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Walter "Sticky" Burch, originally from Asheville, North Carolina, spent much of his life serving in the Greensboro Police Department. Burch briefly describes his early life and military service in World War II. After the war, Burch returned to the Greensboro Police Department, and remained with the department for forty years. Burch has also been involved with the Rotary Club of Greensboro, the Oriental Shrine Club, and the One Hundred Club, an organization that brings together political and business leaders. Through his role in the police department, Burch recounts the difficulties faced by Greensboro during the Civil Rights Movement. He also emphasizes the development of the police department, its struggles with corruption, and the power of crime, particularly bootlegging and gambling, in the history of Greensboro. Burch focuses on the unique qualities of Greensboro an academic environment, positive leadership, and a strong African-American population that allowed the city to have relatively peaceful integration. Burch credits Jessie Jackson as a positive influence on Greensboro during the Civil Rights Movement, suggesting his nonviolent approach mirrored Martin Luther King, Jr. He highlights events, notably the Greensboro Massacre, that occurred throughout the 1970s and 1980s and marked this turbulent period in the city's growth.
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Oral history interview with Donald W. Cameron
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Donald Cameron, who was raised in Robbins, North Carolina, moved to Greensboro in 1981. While in Greensboro, Cameron worked as the executive vice president of Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC), and eventually became the president. Cameron has been involved with the Rotary Club of Greensboro since 1981, as well as other community projects such as the Greensboro Economic Development Alliance. Cameron focuses on the necessity of growth and focused education in Greensboro's future. Drawing on his experiences with GTCC, Cameron relates the changing economics of the city and the shift from traditional industries such as textile manufacturing to biotech and transportation industries. Cameron's narrative presents possibilities for Greensboro's future and emphasizes the necessary stimulants to economic growth that GTCC and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro will foster.
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Oral history interview with Stephen Cobb
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Dr. Stephen Cobb has spent the majority of his life in the Greensboro, North Carolina, area. Cobb recounts his childhood on a farm and his pursuit of a college education. He describes his undergraduate life at North Carolina State University and his time in veterinary school at Oklahoma State University. Cobb also relates his work in Washington, D.C., with the Public Health Service before his return to Greensboro to practice veterinary medicine. He describes his long and successful career in Greensboro, from his initial start as a partner in a veterinary practice, to its growth into four veterinary hospitals. Cobb pays particular attention to the changes he's seen in Greensboro such as the decline and revitalization of downtown, the loss of major manufacturing industries, and race relations. He also relates his views on the challenges facing the city, identifying the need for strong leadership and job growth. Cobb describes his participation in the civic life of Greensboro, particularly with the Rotary Club and the Boy Scouts. He recounts his charge of a five-year Rotary program that planted one million trees in the Greensboro area and his efforts to help hurricane victims in Tarboro, North Carolina.
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Oral history interview with Alan Cone
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Alan Cone, born in Greensboro, North Carolina, has been an integral figure in the city's development. After attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and serving in the Navy, Cone went to work for his family's apparel business, Cone Mills. Cone focuses on his family's business history, its impact on the city, and the eventual decline of textile manufacturing in Greensboro as outsourcing became prevalent. Cone also recounts the history of Greensboro, from the Depression-era city of his childhood to its modern incarnation. Cone pays special attention to the unique and close-knit Jewish community in Greensboro and the positive influence the community has had on the city's growth. Cone also highlights the city's openness and acceptance of Jewish people throughout his life. Cone left his family's business and ran Blue Gem, his own garment manufacturing company, until the 1990s. Cone has been actively involved in the community life of Greensboro, serving on the Moses Cone Hospital board of directors, working with the Boy Scouts, and maintaining membership in the Rotary Club of Greensboro since the 1950s.
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Oral history interview with Robert Cone
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Robert Cone (1952-2017), a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, was a successful litigation attorney and mediator. Cone attended Aycock Junior High until 1967, when he transferred to Asheville School. After graduating from Asheville School in 1970, Cone attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC Chapel Hill). While at UNC Chapel Hill, Cone had the opportunity to travel to Israel for a year, where he worked on a kibbutz. Cone continued his college studies and learned conversational Hebrew, while working six days a week on the kibbutz. The experience of working on the kibbutz stayed with Cone throughout his life and played an integral part in his decision to go to law school. Cone returned to UNC Chapel Hill to finish his undergraduate studies and graduated in December 1974. Following graduation, Cone traveled through Europe for three months. He then returned to the kibbutz and worked there for four months before returning to UNC Chapel Hill in August 1975, to begin law school. After graduating from law school, Cone moved back to Greensboro and practiced law until his death in March 2017. He was invited to join the Rotary Club of Greensboro by his father in 1982. Cone remained passionate about recruiting new members and the next generation of Rotarians throughout his time in the club.
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Oral history interview with Cynthia Doyle
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Cynthia Doyle, originally from Minnesota, has worked throughout her life to change the social and cultural realities of Greensboro, North Carolina. Doyle first became involved in Greensboro's community life when she joined the board of directors of the United Way. Soon after, Doyle widened her focus to other organizations, several that she started herself. Doyle has served on the board of the Chamber of Commerce, helped form Leadership Greensboro and Reading Connections, and has been a member of the Rotary Club of Greensboro since 1999. Notably, she highlights her role in creating the Community Foundation to provide monetary support for charitable organizations in Greensboro. Doyle was also instrumental in the creation of the Greensboro Children's Museum. She traces the development of philanthropic ventures and an increase in awareness and support of philanthropy in Greensboro. Doyle simultaneously relates the effects of race relations, poverty, and economic development in Greensboro.
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Oral history interview with Betsy Farmer
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Betsy Farmer was raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, but spent a large part of her life in Atlanta, Georgia. After returning to Greensboro in 1984, Farmer worked for a development consultant firm for non-profits, located in Winston-Salem. Farmer's experience with volunteer work and non-profit organizations would shape her continued relationship with Greensboro. Farmer relates some of the major changes in Greensboro life, including the Civil Rights movement, the disintegration and revitalization of downtown, and the major social activities that shaped the city in the 1950s and 1960s, such as sporting events and parades. She also reflects on the future of Greensboro, and the need for continued community cohesion and philanthropy. Farmer illustrates the important role non-profits have played in sustaining Greensboro throughout the years, particularly during crises or difficult times. She details her experiences with the Rotary Club of Greensboro, her volunteerism with colleges such as Duke University and Chatham Hall, and her work with the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro.
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Oral history interview with Weezie Glascock
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Weezie Glascock grew up in Old Fort, North Carolina, before coming to Greensboro to attend Woman's College University of North Carolina (WCUNC) in 1958. She relates some of the incidents of the Civil Rights Movement in Greensboro, notably the sit-ins of 1960. Glascock also discusses the culture of WCUNC, including its rules and its change to a co-ed university in 1963. Glascock lived briefly in Washington, D.C., during the Cuban Missile Crisis and John F. Kennedy's presidency, but returned to Greensboro in 1964. She traces the changes in Greensboro's community culture, leadership, economy, and downtown area. Glascock also discusses her involvement in philanthropy and volunteerism in the city, particularly her work with the Rotary Club of Greensboro. In a worsening economic climate, she identifies future hurdles to philanthropic endeavors and also tracks her own career shifts within the travel industry.
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Oral history interview with Victoria Guthrie
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Victoria Guthrie was born in Bradford, Pennsylvania. She moved to North Carolina with her husband in the early 1970s so she could complete her undergraduate degree at Guilford College. Guthrie discusses her nearly thirty-year career with the Center for Creative Leadership, providing perspective on Greensboro's governance over several decades. Guthrie relates some of her travels around the world, drawing comparisons between countries such as Singapore and the United States. She traces the history of Greensboro, touching briefly on the Greensboro Massacre and issues facing the city, such as water shortages. Guthrie also describes her role in the city's community life, particularly her induction into the Greensboro Rotary Club as the club's first female Rotarian.
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Oral history interview with Charles Hassell
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Charles Hassell was born in 1932 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hassell recounts his early fascination with science and medicine, as well as his determination to become a physician. He describes his academic career at Davidson College and the medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. After completing his residency and internship in Cleveland, Hassell relocated to Greensboro to join Moses Cone Hospital's pathology department. He relates the history of medicine in Greensboro, paying particular attention to area hospitals and their eventual merger into Cone Health. Hassell also discusses the positive aspects of Greensboro, such as strong leadership and excellent city planning. He describes his involvement with the Greensboro Rotary Club, community theatre, and local choral groups.
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Oral history interview with Don Hughes
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Don Hughes was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and spent much of his youth in the area. After serving in the Navy from 1946 to 1950, Hughes attended Harvard. He continued at Harvard, earning a degree from Harvard Business School, before joining Burlington Industries and relocating to Greensboro, North Carolina. Hughes discusses his extensive career with Burlington Industries, an international textile company based in Greensboro. He relates his rise in the company's leadership and his appointment as vice chairman. Hughes provides unique insights on the importance of the textile industry to Greensboro, as well as its eventual decline after a shift to overseas textile production. Hughes also recounts his involvement in the city of Greensboro, including meetings to discuss the city's problems with other business and political figures, such as Jim Melvin. He discusses his role in the community and civic life of Greensboro, particularly his involvement with the Rotary Club. He also relates his wife's philanthropic work, highlighting her instrumental role in fostering peace and religious tolerance in Belfast, Ireland, through the Piedmont Irish Children's Summer Program.
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Oral history interview with Bynum Hunter
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Bynum Hunter was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1925 and lived the majority of his life in the city. Hunter discusses his childhood and the challenges of the Great Depression, his time in law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his military career. He extensively discusses his role in World War II and the Korean War. After graduating, Hunter began practicing law in Greensboro. He recounts the changes that he has seen in the court system and in the practice of law. Hunter also relates the notable case of Junius Scales and the fear of Communism during the Cold War. He briefly discusses the Civil Rights Movement in Greensboro. Hunter discusses his time with the Rotary Club of Greensboro and a Rotary Club in Finland, as well as his international travels with his wife, who was the United States Ambassador to Finland.
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Oral history interview with Vickie Kilimanjaro
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Vickie Kilimanjaro was born in Enfield, North Carolina, and attended North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University) in Durham. Kilimanjaro married and moved to Greensboro in 1956. She discusses her career in library science, her educational experience in the city of Greensboro, and her extensive involvement with The Carolina Peacemaker. Kilimanjaro recounts the history of the newspaper, from its creation by her husband to its coverage of major events in the Civil Rights Movement, such as the Greensboro Massacre. Kilimanjaro also discusses her activism in the Civil Rights Movement, her participation in the March on Washington, her attendance at a Vietnam peace talk in Paris, her husband's involvement in the Greensboro sit-ins, and her meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She focuses on her community and civic participation, including her involvement with the Rotary Club of Greensboro, the Jewish community, the National Association of Autistic Citizens, and her membership in the North Carolina Council of Developmental Disabilities.
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Oral history interview with Horace Kornegay
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Horace Kornegay was born in Asheville, North Carolina, in 1924, but his family moved to Greensboro shortly afterward. He discusses his childhood in Greensboro, forming early connections that would later help his career as a lawyer, and his enrollment at Wake Forest University. Kornegay also relates his time serving as a machine gun operator in France during World War II. He provides details on several battles, including the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, Kornegay returned to Wake Forest, completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees, and enrolled in law school. He recounts his initial law practice in Greensboro, his rise to prominence as a District Attorney, and his election to Congress. He examines political culture, particularly in relation to his service on the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce and the Committee on Veteran Affairs. After retiring from Congress, he became an advocate of the tobacco industry. Kornegay discusses his work to promote the issues of tobacco farmers and his time as the vice president of the Tobacco Institute in Washington, D.C. Kornegay maintained active involvement in several philanthropic organizations, including the Rotary Club of Greensboro.
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Oral history interview with Willam A. Lambert
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William Lambert was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina. He recounts his childhood in Greensboro, as well as the changes and modernization of the city. Lambert also provides details regarding his family life as well as prominent citizens of Greensboro. He discusses his service as a Japanese interpreter with the Army during World War II. After the war, Lambert finished college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, then returned to Greensboro. Lambert worked for his father's furniture business, which he eventually operated, for forty-three years. He recounts the drastic changes in the furniture industry, such as mechanization, technological advances, and outsourcing. Lambert also discusses his civic and community life in Greensboro, including his involvement with the Rotary Club of Greensboro, the Boy Scouts, and the First Presbyterian Church. He explores the issues that continue to shape the city, particularly the influence of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the decline of downtown, the water crisis, and the necessity of good leadership.
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Oral history interview with Fred Lopp
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Fred Lopp was born and raised in Lexington, North Carolina. He attended Davidson College and the dental school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill). After graduation and a brief period teaching at UNC-Chapel Hill, Lopp moved to Greensboro in 1973 to open a private dentistry practice. He recounts the atmosphere of the city during the Civil Rights Movement and discusses what made the city more supportive of racial harmony, including religious diversity and the influence of the local colleges. Lopp also discusses his philanthropic and civic involvement in Greensboro, notably with the Rotary Club of Greensboro. He describes his support of the arts through his work with the Weatherspoon Art Museum, the Greensboro Opera, and the Greensboro Symphony. Lopp also relates his feelings on art and the potential boost it could offer Greensboro in the future.
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Oral history interview with Seth C. Macon (Part 1)
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Seth C. Macon was born at home in Randolph County, North Carolina. Macon grew up on a farm and recounts some of his daily chores during childhood and his close relationship with his six siblings. Macon is a "birthright Quaker" and describes the Quaker community in which he grew up; particularly the one room schoolhouse, the communal building of a new meeting house and barn, and the Quaker's refusal to grow tobacco as a cash crop. He attended Guilford College where he met his wife, Hazel. He relates the struggles he faced to finance his education during the Great Depression and his student work at Guilford College. After graduating from college, Macon joined Jefferson Standard Life Insurance until he was drafted. He describes his work with the Army Air Corps, primarily maintaining records on Air Corps schools. Before moving back to North Carolina, Macon and his wife lived in Fort Worth, Texas. Macon rejoined Jefferson Standard after returning to North Carolina, eventually settling in Greensboro in 1946. He describes his career in the life insurance industry, particularly the completion of his two books on recruiting life insurance agents and subsequent recognition. Macon also wrote a book about his life called Uphill Both Ways as well as the supplement Uphill Both Ways and Still Climbing.
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