Res. 2001-15

Whereas, Charles Calloway "C.C." Ross, Sr. was a native of Mound Bayou, Mississippi; and

Whereas, C.C. Ross received a Bachelors of Science degree from Hampton Institute; and

Whereas, C.C. Ross taught at Atkins High School in Winston‑Salem and later at West Virginia State College; and

Whereas, C.C. Ross was the owner and operator of C.C. Ross Painting and Decorating Company; and

Whereas, in 1965, C.C. Ross was the first alderman to represent the East Ward of the City of Winston‑Salem and was elected to three additional terms, during which time he served as Mayor Pro Tempore, Chair of the Finance Committee, and as a member of the Public Safety Committee and Recreation Committee; and

Whereas, from 1969 to 1982, C.C. Ross served as a member of the Winston‑Salem State University Board of Trustees, during which time he became the first African‑American to be named Chair; and

Whereas, C.C. Ross helped secure funding to improve classroom facilities at Winston‑Salem State University and to have the university included in the City's downtown corridor; and

Whereas, in 1979, Southern National Bank, formerly Forsyth Bank & Trust Co., endowed a merit scholarship in honor of C.C. Ross, who was a charter member of the bank, at Winston‑Salem State University's School of Business; and

Whereas, in 1983, C.C. Ross received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Winston‑Salem State University; and

Whereas, C.C. Ross was a fair housing advocate and served on the Board of Directors of the Winston‑Salem Housing Foundation, Inc., for more than 24 years; and

Whereas, in 1992, the Board of Directors of the Winston‑Salem Housing Foundation, Inc., renamed a residence facility for the elderly in honor of C.C. Ross; and

Whereas, C.C. Ross served as vice president and member of the Executive Committee of the local chapter of the NAACP; and

Whereas, C.C. Ross served as a member of the Bowman Gray Stadium Commission, Salem Lake Fishing Commission, Coliseum and Convention Center Commission, Model Cities Committee, Personnel Advisory Committee, and the Winston‑Salem Advisory Committee on Transportation; and

Whereas, C.C. Ross served his country as a member of the United States Army; and

Whereas, C.C. Ross was a member of the Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church; and

Whereas, C.C. Ross died on November 9, 1996; and

Whereas, C.C. Ross is survived by his wife, Dorothy Walls Ross, a son, Charles Ross, Jr., and a daughter, Denise B. Eaton; and

Whereas, C.C. Ross will be remembered as a dedicated community leader, a staunch supporter of Winston‑Salem State University, and a beloved husband, father, and friend; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

SECTION 1. The General Assembly honors the memory of Charles Calloway "C.C." Ross, Sr. and extends its appreciation for the service he rendered to the City of Winston‑Salem, Winston‑Salem State University, and his community.

SECTION 2. The General Assembly expresses its deepest sympathy to the family of Charles Calloway "C.C." Ross, Sr. for the loss of their family member.

SECTION 3. The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Charles Calloway "C.C." Ross, Sr.

SECTION 4. This resolution is effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 30^th day of May, 2001.

_____________________________________

Beverly E. Perdue

President of the Senate

_____________________________________

James B. Black

Speaker of the House of Representatives