Chuck Stone's legacy at the University was cemented in a documentary by masters student Chad Danford at Carroll Hall on Thursday.
The film —Danford's masters thesis — traced the famed professor’s life through his involvement in the civil rights movement up to his taking on the Walter Spearman professorship at UNC's School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Danford said the idea to use Stone as his subject originated during a trip to Russia he’d taken with the professor last fall. “We got to be close on that trip, and I just asked him to do it, and he said yes.”
Danford has been working on the project since last October. He encountered a few people that declined to participate, but most people were more than willing do an interview, he said.
Stone said he’d given Danford a few key words to use on friends and relatives if they were resistant.
“When he dropped the name ‘Charlieboy,’ they would open right up,” said Stone, referring to the nickname his family has called him for most of his life.
Danford hit the jackpot when he convinced Stone’s two sisters to participate in the project. Better than any anecdote provided by Stone or one of the other participants, watching Stone’s sisters excitedly divulge their brother’s secrets gave the viewer true insight into how “Charlieboy” became the legendary Chuck Stone that is so well-known on campus.
Amanda Atkinson, a senior public relations major who attended the screening, said the documentary succeeded at capturing Stone’s vibrant personality.
“A lot of us have seen Chuck Stone speak before and we’ve heard some of these stories, but when you put them into context like this, you realize what a huge life this guy has led.”
