| UNC President Emeritus William Friday begins the first part of Biographical Conversations
with an endearing recollection of his parents. His father was a
bookkeeper in a textile company. In addition, he was mayor for the
town of Dallas. His mother loved and taught music, and Friday talks
about the musical instruments that he and his siblings played. He
then describes Dallas, a small town near Gastonia, where he grew
up. Some of his opinions about issues were formed during this time,
as he first became aware of segregation when he was playing baseball
in high school. Friday also recalls his experience with growing
up during the Depression and how it affected not only his political
affiliation but his attitude about life in general as well.
Friday then
talks about his brothers and sister and the relationship they had.
In addition, he explains the importance his parents placed on education.
While his father
wanted him to study law, Friday wanted to make a career out of baseball.
Friday discusses his college years and why he chose Wake Forest
and transferred to NC State, called State College at the time. He
talks about some of the class offices he held called State College
at the time. He talks about some of the class offices he held while
attending and about meeting Frank Porter Graham, for whom he later
worked, and Ida Howell, whom he married.
His marriage
to Ida and his entrance into World War II as a plant operations
manager in a naval ammunition depot are his next stories. Friday
talks about how his experiences in the war shaped his sensitivities
later. He ends this segment by discussing his attitude towards African-Americans
and segregation during the war.
Issues:
Friday first
became aware of segregation while playing baseball when he was only
14 years old. Because they needed an extra player, they drafted
an African-American boy named Showen Lawrence. Friday then noticed
that there were different high schools in the town, some with only
blacks and some with only whites. 
Friday says
he was scared to death when he was assigned to the naval ammunition
depot in Virginia. He talks about what life was like in the barracks
and how the experience of working with explosives made him nervous
later in his life when someone lit a cigarette. He tells the story
of his life in the Navy.
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