NCC President Emeritus, Dr. J. Reid Parrott, Jr. Receives North Carolina’s Highest Honor
Phil Kirk presents The Order of the Long Leaf Pine to Dr. J. Reid Parrott, Jr. (Photo credit: Allen Hinnant)
Nash Community College President Emeritus Dr. J. Reid Parrott, Jr. was honored with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award on Thursday, May 14, 2015 during a Kiwanis meeting at Benvenue Country Club in Rocky Mount. Phil Kirk, of the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, recognized Parrott for his remarkable career and service to the State of North Carolina.
Dr. Parrott earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Social Studies in 1960 from East Carolina University and then began his educational career as a teacher in the Wayne County, Lenoir County and Kinston City School Systems. In 1962, he graduated again from East Carolina University with a Master of Arts degree in Education and a minor in History. His blood runs Pirate purple and he is a lifelong friend of East Carolina University.
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Dr. Parrott quickly moved up from a social studies teacher to an assistant principal and served in that capacity until 1966 when he joined the North Carolina Community College System at Lenoir Community College where he served as Director of Adult Basic Education for a three county area. He was later promoted to Director of Evening Programs and then to Dean of Continuing Education, a position he held until 1969.
Dr. J. Reid Parrott, Jr., center, with sons Ben, left, and Jake, right.
In 1971, he earned his Doctorate in Adult and Community College Education from North Carolina State University. Dr. Parrott joined the N. C. Department of Community Colleges as a State-Federal Relations Coordinator where he identified state, federal and private funds for expansion initiatives. He was appointed Vice President for Institutional Services in 1972. In addition to his institutional responsibilities, he was assigned to work with the legislature on community college budget requests. In 1975, he was named Senior Vice President for Educational Programs with additional responsibilities of serving as departmental liaison between the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina System.
At the N.C. Department of Community Colleges, Dr. Parrott helped develop and implement curriculum standards that provided quality control throughout the system’s 58 colleges. This effort was aimed at ensuring the transfer of credits to other community colleges as well as senior colleges and universities. Also, among his many accomplishments at the state level was his role in the attainment of state and regional accreditation by all of the institutions. Advancements were made in achieving the goal of excellence in educational programs and comprehensive learning opportunities for all citizens served by the system’s 58 schools.
During this period of growth, Dr. Parrott also saw services to new and expanding industries flourish. Efforts to eliminate illiteracy among the adult population were expanded, enrollment growth in the system grew from some 300,000 to one-half million students, state appropriations more than doubled for current operations, and five technical institutes were converted to community colleges with an addition of four institutions to the existing fifty-four. The realization of permanent campuses for the remaining one-third of the colleges in the system was achieved with his lobbying efforts during 1971 to 1977. Dr. Parrott often worked with W. Dallas Herring, the former Chairman of the North Carolina State Board of Education, on expansion projects for the community colleges.
After nine years at the state level, Dr. Parrott served as a special consultant to the president of Halifax Community College as a representative of the N. C. Department of Community Colleges. During this time, Nash Community College was conducting a presidential search. Dr. Parrott was selected as the second president of Nash Technical Institute in Rocky Mount. Upon joining the college in 1980, he brought a strong background and wealth of experience in public and collegiate education to his presidency. Dr. Parrott’s tenure of twenty years with the college ushered in a period of growth in number of students served, program offerings, and physical facilities. His vision and leadership enabled the college to assume a prominent educational position in the Nash/Rocky Mount area and in the North Carolina Community College System transitioning from a technical institute to a comprehensive community college.
While president, Dr. Parrott served as a member of a development team which landed Consolidated Diesel Company, the largest new industry at that time to locate in eastern North Carolina and third largest to locate in North Carolina. Nash Community College’s new industry training program was one of the primary reasons the company chose Nash County over 140 other communities nationwide.
Dr. Parrott was awarded the 2008 Nash Community College President’s Cup which is the highest and most prestigious award given each year to someone affiliated with Nash Community College who has truly made an indelible mark on the institution. Upon Dr. Parrott’s retirement in 1999 to recognize his distinguished educational career and service, the NCC Board of Trustees bestowed the title of President Emeritus to him to honor his outstanding contributions to the college. Known for his ease at the podium, Dr. Parrott has shared his wit and wisdom as the commencement speaker with numerous North Carolina Community Colleges.
“Dr. J. Reid Parrott, Jr. has made a lasting impact on North Carolina and particularly the community college system as a visionary leader,” Nash Community College President Bill Carver shared. “His dedication never waned and it is without a doubt the community colleges would not be what they are today without his influence.”
Dr. Parrott was also honored in 1990 as the recipient of the North Carolina State University Department of Adult and Community College Education I. E. Ready Distinguished Alumnus Award in recognition of his exemplary leadership and excellence in community college education. In 1989, the Leadership 2000 Institute named him as one of 12 outstanding community college presidents in North Carolina. He is past president of the North Carolina Association of Colleges and Universities.
Among the many civic organizations he is involved in, Dr. Parrott served as 2007-2008 President of the Nash Community College Foundation Board of Directors. He is an active member of the Rocky Mount Kiwanis Club and the First United Methodist Church in Rocky Mount. Dr. Parrott has served since 1988 on the Boy Scouts of America Executive Committee – East Carolina Council. In 2004, he received the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award for the Tar River Council. In 2010, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the East Carolina University Alumni Association.
Dr. Parrott and his wife, Margaret, reside in Rocky Mount. They have two adult sons, Jake and Ben, and two grandchildren, Ben and Dorsey.
