GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001 RATIFIED BILL
RESOLUTION 2001-35 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 60
A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF GEORGE HENRY WHITE, A FORMER MEMBER OF THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ON THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS HISTORIC FAREWELL SPEECH IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
Whereas, George Henry White was born on December 18, 1852, in Bladen County, North Carolina, the son of Wiley F. and Mary White; and Whereas, George Henry White attended public schools in North Carolina and received training under D.P. Allen, president of the Witten Normal School in Lumberton; and Whereas, George Henry White graduated from Howard University in 1877; and Whereas, George Henry White maintained a deep interest in education, serving with distinction as principal of the Colored Grade School, the Presbyterian parochial school in New Bern, and the State Normal School (now Fayetteville State University); and Whereas, George Henry White studied law under Judge William J. Clarke and was granted a license to practice law by the State of North Carolina in 1879; and Whereas, George Henry White was deeply interested and involved in the political affairs of North Carolina and the United States of America; and Whereas, George Henry White began his political career in 1881 when he was elected to represent Craven County in the North Carolina House of Representatives; and Whereas, George Henry White was elected to the first of two four-year terms as a State district attorney in 1886; and Whereas, George Henry White was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives by the voters of the Second Congressional District of North Carolina in 1896, and he served with great distinction in Congress for two terms; and Whereas, George Henry White delivered his moving farewell address in the U.S. House of Representatives on January 29, 1901, and at that time, he was the last and only African-American then serving in the Congress; and Whereas, George Henry White was the last African-American to represent North Carolina in Congress until the election of the Honorable Eva Clayton and the Honorable Mel Watt many decades later; and Whereas, George Henry White was an eloquent and vocal spokesman for all of the citizens of North Carolina; and Whereas, George Henry White was a valuable and dedicated business leader who founded the first black-managed bank in Philadelphia; and Whereas, George Henry White was a leader of a variety of fraternal and religious organizations: he was a founder and elder of Ebenezer United Presbyterian Church in New Bern; and he served as grand master of both the King Solomon Lodge No. 1 of New Bern and the Colored Masons of North Carolina; and Whereas, George Henry White was a devoted husband and a loving father to his three children; and Whereas, George Henry White died on December 28, 1918; and Page 2 Resolution 2001-35 House Joint Resolution 60 Whereas, George Henry White will be remembered for his myriad contributions to the State of North Carolina and her citizens of all races; and Whereas, the General Assembly wishes to show its appreciation for the life, accomplishments, and public service of George Henry White; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1. The General Assembly expresses high esteem and regard for the extraordinary life and accomplished leadership of George Henry White and acknowledges with gratitude the distinguished service he provided to his native State. SECTION 2. This resolution is effective upon ratification. In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 6th day of December, 2001.
_____________________________________ Beverly E. Perdue President of the Senate _____________________________________ James B. Black Speaker of the House of Representatives