.jpg)
"Your
Place to Succeed!"
|
|
|
1911 - 2002 Educational Leader, Political Leader, Community Service Leader, and Humanitarian In 1996, the E. V. Wilkins Endowed Chair with a Distinguished Professorship was established in the Elizabeth City State University School of Education and Psychology. This honor resulted from E. V.'s many outstanding accomplishments and major contributions to the University, educational, and political leadership, community service and his everlasting role as a humanitarian. Elmer Vanray Wilkins was born in the small northeastern North Carolina town of Roper on July 4, 1911. It is a fitting birth date for a man whose life has been committed to public service. He was married to the late Elizabeth C. Witherspoon Wilkins and has two daughters, Corinne Price and Bunny Sanders. After completion of elementary and secondary schools in Roper, N. C., he received his B. S. and M. A. Degrees from N. C. Central University. E. V., as he is affectionately called by all who know him, served as Principal of Washington County Union School from 1941 to 1974. He first voted in 1932 in Durham, N. C. However, upon returning to his hometown, he was not permitted to vote until 1952, because his "handwriting" did not pass the "literacy" test. His father, Tom Wilkins, had persisted in trying to register for decades, only to be told year after year, "nothing's changed Tom." His father did get to vote in 1952. His son E. V. would become the first Black elected official in Roper, N. C. since reconstruction when he was elected to the Roper Town Council in 1967. It is significant that a black Principal would even run for elective office in 1967 in eastern North Carolina, for to do so was to put his job at risk. "Wilkins learned racial wisdom the hard way as a boy when Roper and the rest of North Carolina was a closed shop run by whites and ruled by the cruelest kind of segregation." Mason Peters, Virginian Pilot E. V. Wilkins was to become the first Black Mayor of Roper in 1975, where he served for 20 years. His candidacy for that office was never challenged throughout his term. E. V. Wilkins' daughter, Bunny Sanders became the first female to be elected as Mayor of Roper in 1997. The importance of education was drilled into E. V. and his nine brothers and sisters by their father, Tom Wilkins, who was a laborer on the Norfolk Southern Railroad and his mother, Maggie Wilkins. They were determined that their children would receive a college education. Eight attended college and seven finished. Four attended Elizabeth City State University. His mother's motto was "give them an education and will them the world." After retiring as Principal, E. V. organized and served as director of the Industrialization Center in Roper from 1974 to 1976. At this point, his political wisdom and leadership among blacks throughout the state was legendary. E. V. was to earn the distinction of "Godfather of Black Politics in N. C." This honor was bestowed by the N. C. Black Legislative Caucus. Governor Hunt said that one of the first things he did during his first term as Governor was to name E. V. Wilkins to the State Board of Education. Over the years, E. V. has served on:
He has also received numerous awards for public service including:
In 1992, The Elizabeth City State University Academic Computer Center was renamed The E. V. Wilkins Academic Computing Center.
Created 12/01/00 Revised 8/18/03
|
E.
V. Wilkins
