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Rocky Mount, N.C.—North Carolina Wesleyan College will honor former Rocky Mount mayor William B. Harrison, a local banker, businessman, and an original founder of Wesleyan, during the college’s 41st commencement on Saturday, May 8. The college will present Harrison with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his service to Rocky Mount and beyond.

Born in Enfield, N.C., Harrison attended Enfield High School, Virginia Episcopal School, and the University of North Carolina, from which he received his bachelor’s degree in commerce in 1935. His early career in banking included service as assistant cashier at Bank of Enfield, then as trust, tax, and investment officer with Peoples Bank and Trust Company in Rocky Mount from 1938-46.

Harrison was known to many as president of W.C. Reid and Company, a downtown Rocky Mount music store, and as director of Coastal Plain Life Insurance Company, and president of Harrison Drug Company. He was a partner in the development of real estate in Rocky Mount’s Westridge area, was vice president and treasurer of National Cordage Products Company, and also was in the fertilizer business.

Harrison served Rocky Mount as mayor from 1962 to 1964. Prior to that, he served on Rocky Mount’s board of aldermen and as a member of the City’s board of health. In 1985, the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce presented Harrison its Distinguished Citizen Award. The following year, Harrison was named National Junior Chamber of Commerce Alumnus of the Year. He has long been active in community organizations such as the Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, Boy Scouts, Salvation Army, YMCA, and the Chamber of Commerce. In 1953, he was a Raleigh News & Observer Tar Heel of the Week.

Harrison has been active in politics as chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee for Nash County. He was a member of the North Carolina Democratic Advisory Committee to the Democratic National Committee in 1955-56, and in 1960 was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

Harrison is committed to the support of education and has been a longstanding member of the board of trustees of the University of North Carolina and of Virginia Episcopal School.

Religious activities also have been a part of Harrison’s life. He has been a vestryman of Rocky Mount’s Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd for many years and has served the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina as a member of the department of missions.

North Carolina Wesleyan College’s commencement ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. in Minges Auditorium of the Dunn Center for the Performing Arts. Of the 243 students who applied to participate in the ceremony, 110 are traditional-age students, 21 are from the Adult Degree Program in Rocky Mount, 22 attended the Goldsboro campus, and 90 attended Wesleyan at its Research Triangle Park location.

Rocky Mount Mayor Fred Turnage will deliver the commencement address. A native of Rocky Mount, Turnage was the city’s youngest mayor when he was first elected in 1973. Turnage is now serving his 31st consecutive year as mayor.

The commencement ceremony will be preceded by a baccalaureate service at 8:30 a.m. in Wesleyan’s Leon Russell Chapel.

Attendance at the events is reserved for students and their guests, since seating capacity is limited.

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