The Daily Tar Heel
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The Daily Tar Heel
Bill Friday

Bill Friday is known as the father of the UNC system. He served as its first president from 1956 to 1986. Over his thirty years he saw the system grow from three campuses to 16.

Friday fought for the desegregation of universities and the preservation of historically black colleges. Even after his retirement in 1986, he stayed active in higher education, pushing for the lowering of tuition.

He passed away in 2012 at the age of 92.