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Biographical Conversations with Henry E. Frye
Born in 1932 on a small farm in Ellerbe, NC, Henry E. Frye overcame the odds to become the first African American appointee to the North Carolina Supreme Court, becoming Chief Justice in 1999. Discover his inspiring life story directly from the source on Biographical Conversations with Henry Frye, airing over three consecutive Sundays, only on UNC-TV!
H. Frye shares his father's advice to pursue an education.
Henry Frye talks about his experience cutting slabs of wood for the family home stove. Henry also reveals why his father would joke about Henry being physically to slow to work and make a living in farming. Henry's father advises him to attend school so he could make a living doing something other than farming.
H. Frye describes relationship with his father
Henry Frye shares why his father, Walter Frye, didn't believe in talking a lot. Henry's father felt Henry should learn how to work on the family farm by watching, not by verbally telling Henry what to do.
H. Frye on his mother's desire for him to be a preacher
Henry Frye shares his mother's dream of him being a church preacher. Henry talks about his mother encouraging him to attend Sunday school on a regular base. Henry also shares how his mother and the neighborhood hold preachers in high esteem.
H. Frye describes some of the chores he worked on the farm.
Henry Frye describes his childhood working experience on the family farm. Henry also talks about how intense it was to work tobacco crops. He shares his working experience with cotton, as well as, how he waited for the time to stop picking cotton to drive the cotton sled to gather cotton.
H. Frye talks about how eleven siblings sharing limited beds
Henry Frye describes how he and his eleven brothers and sisters had to share limited bedroom space. Henry also describes how he and his siblings had to sleep two kids per bed within a small bedroom space. Henry also recalls his family standing in their kitchen and capturing rain in pots and pans from a leaking ceiling.
H. Frye describes his childhood relations with 11 siblings
Henry Frye describes his childhood relations with his eleven brothers and sisters. Henry also describes what it was like growing up as a middle child in a family of eleven siblings. Henry talks about sibling fights and how they resolved issues.
H. Frye recalls popular quote that he's never forgotten.
Henry Frye recalls hearing the quote, "Winners never quit, and quitters never win" from his high school principle that inspired him to achieve a lot in life. Mr. Easterling's quote was memorable to Henry and encouraged him to becoming a leader in life.
H. Frye shares his child dream of being an Army General
Henry Frye shares his child dream of becoming a General in the Army. Henry also shares how he went from dreaming to be a general to later becoming a pharmacist and then an Agricultural Teacher.
H. Frye talks about his mother's challenge to raise 12 kids.
Henry Frye shares how his mother was willing and capable to care and raise twelve kids on their family farm. Henry describes how his mother disciplined him and his sibling by using her Christian morals and a good switch.
H. Frye describes his first date with E. Shirley Taylor.
Henry Frye talks about going on his first date with his future wife, E. Shirley Taylor. Henry shares how he didn't have the money to pay for movie tickets at the local theater. He and Shirley settled for going to a restaurant to drink milkshakes.
Episode 4: Gen. Hugh Shelton: Chairman of the Chiefs
The fourth and final episode of Biographical Conversations with General Hugh Shelton focuses on his tenure as Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff—a term that spanned four years and two presidents. Nominated to the position by President Bill Clinton in 1997. Within weeks he was advising the President and his cabinet on strategies to weaken the al-Qaeda network, led by Osama bid Laden.
Episode 3: Gen. Hugh Shelton: General in Command
Episode 3 of Biographical Conversations with General Hugh Shelton discusses the military leader’s rise in the ranks. Beginning with a 1972 move to Alabama so the then-Major could attend the Air Command Staff College at Maxwell Air Force, to North Carolina, in 1991, to command the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg.
Episode 2: Gen. Hugh Shelton: Tours of Vietnam
Episode 2 of Biographical Conversations with Hugh Shelton explores his two perilous tours of Vietnam. Days after he arrives for the first time in Southeast Asia, Lieutenant Shelton is assigned to Project Delta, an outfit known for its highly dangerous missions.
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: Shares why he played the guitar.
Gen. Shelton shares why his mother tried getting him and his brother to play a musical instrument. Gen. Shelton also reflects on his mother’s efforts of trying to get him to play the piano.
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: Shares his courage.
Gen. Shelton shares how he developed the strong courage to lead on the battlefields, to make tough decisions as the Chairman of the Joint Chief and through his personal recovery from a spinal cord injury.
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: Feedback on North Vietnam War.
Gen. Shelton expresses his opinion on North Vietnam rejecting President Johnson's offer of economic aid in exchange for peace during the Vietnam War.
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: Shares first Christmas as a father
Gen. Shelton expresses his excitement to spend his first Christmas with his wife, Carolyn, and their first-born child, Jonathan. Gen. Shelton also shares how his parents felt about him spending his first Christmas with his family.
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: The troops ran out of water.
Gen. Shelton explains how unpleasant it was for him and his troop to run out of water on a five-day military mission. Gen. Shelton also explains how his troop had to adjust without water.
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: The military changed during his career
Gen. Shelton talks about the many changes that happened in the military throughout his career. Gen. Shelton also shares how the military forces will start to lose military excellence.
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: Iraqi's PR official denying defeat.
Gen. Shelton expresses how the Iraqi Public Relations person, Tariq Aziz, was making false reports during the First Gulf War.
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: Shares encouraging words to all.
Gen. Shelton shares his motto to help all who face challenges in their life. Gen. Shelton also encourages everyone to take advantage of good opportunities that knock on your door.
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: faith's role in his military success.
Gen. Shelton expresses how his faith played a major role in helping him endure major military challenges. Gen. Shelton also felt that his relationship with God took away a lot of the fear that comes with military assignments.
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: Major Asenti's demand for rightousness
Gen. Shelton talks about his faith as he prepared for a military assignment that apposed a high chance he may not survive.
Biographical Conversations with Henry E. Frye
Coming Sunday, June 16!
H. Frye shares his father's advice to pursue an education.
Henry Frye talks about his experience sawing slabs of wood for the family home stove.
H. Frye describes relationship with his father
Henry Frye shares why his father didn't believe in talking a lot while working on the farm
H. Frye on his mother's desire for him to be a preacher
Henry Frye shares his mother's dream of him being a local church preacher.
H. Frye describes some of the chores he worked on the farm.
Henry Frye describes his child experience working tobacco and cotton crops on the family
H. Frye talks about how eleven siblings sharing limited beds
Henry Frye describes how he and his eleven siblings had to share beds and bedroom space.
H. Frye describes his childhood relations with 11 siblings
Henry Frye describes his childhood relations with his eleven brothers and sisters.
H. Frye recalls popular quote that he's never forgotten.
Winners never quit, and quitters never win,"" is a quote that helped Henry Frye.
H. Frye shares his child dream of being an Army General
Henry Frye shares his child dream of becoming a General in the Army, and later a teacher
H. Frye talks about his mother's challenge to raise 12 kids.
Henry Frye shares how his mother was willing to raise twelve kids on their family farm.
H. Frye describes his first date with E. Shirley Taylor.
Henry Frye talks about going on his first date with his future wife, E. Shirley Taylor
Episode 4: Gen. Hugh Shelton: Chairman of the Chiefs
final episode, Gen. H. Shelton talks about his tenure as Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff
Episode 3: Gen. Hugh Shelton: General in Command
In Episode 3, General Hugh Shelton discusses his rise in the ranks of the military.
Episode 2: Gen. Hugh Shelton: Tours of Vietnam
In Episode 2, General Hugh Shelton explores his two perilous tours of Vietnam and Project.
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: Shares why he played the guitar.
Gen. Shelton shares why his mother tried getting him to play a musical instrument.
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: Shares his courage.
Gen. Shelton shares how he developed the strong courage to lead on the battlefields.
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: Feedback on North Vietnam War.
Gen. Shelton expresses his opinion on N. Vietnam rejecting President Johnson's peace offer
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: Shares first Christmas as a father
Gen. Shelton expresses his excitement to spending his first Christmas with his family.
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: The troops ran out of water.
Gen. Shelton explains how his troop had to adjust without water on a five-day mission.
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: The military changed during his career
Talks about the many changes that happened in the military throughout his career.
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: Iraqi's PR official denying defeat.
Gen. Shelton talks about Iraqi Public Relations person made false reports. Firs
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: Shares encouraging words to all.
Gen. Shelton shares his motto to help all who face challenges in their life.
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: faith's role in his military success.
Gen. Shelton's faith played a major role in helping him endure major military challenges.
Gen. H. Shelton PT 4: Major Asenti's demand for rightousness
Gen. Shelton talks about his faith as he prepared for a life threatening assignment.
Featured Guests - Web Resources - Watch Full Episodes Online
In this ongoing interview series, UNC-TV's Shannon Vickery provides one-on-one biographical conversations with the Tar Heel State's most influential and important figures.
Program Description
North Carolina is a state rich in history and tradition. And over the decades and centuries since its inception, the state has produced artists, writers, politicians and athletes that have erupted onto the national scene. UNC-TV captures the biographical reminiscences of these extraordinary North Carolinians whose impact and vision have earned them national prominence and a place in history. These one-on-one conversations provide a rare and revealing look at storied North Carolinians, offering unfiltered conversations with exceptional individuals telling their life stories. The series pairs rare vintage and contemporary photographs with these revealing interviews to help viewers visualize the people, places and events that defined the times of these treasured Tar Heels.
Biographical Conversations with... is an ongoing original production of UNC-TV and is funded by a generous grant from the A.J. Fletcher Foundation. The mission of the A.J. Fletcher Foundation is to support non-profit organizations in their endeavors to enrich the lives and well being of people in North Carolina. The Foundation was established as a result of the generosity of the late Alfred Johnston Fletcher (1887-1979). Although its primary focus has traditionally been on education, communications and the arts, the Foundation's board considers requests from agencies and organizations addressing a wide variety of social issues and charitable endeavors.