Dr. Franklin E. McCain Sr., a member of the A&T Four, died Jan. 9, in Greensboro, N.C. McCain was known the world over for an act of courage that led to the eradication of segregation in the United States.

On Feb. 1, 1960, N.C. A&T freshmen Ezell Blair Jr. (now Jibreel Khazan), Joseph A. McNeil, David L. Richmond and McCain—walked from the campus to downtown Greensboro where they requested service at the F.W. Woolworth’s “whites only” lunch counter. Although the A&T Four (Greensboro Four) were denied service, their bold move served as a catalyst and a springboard for other sit-ins to take place in cities across North Carolina and the nation.

Within six months, on July 25, 1960, Woolworth’s served three African American employees at its newly integrated lunch counter. The efforts of the A&T Four and countless others also made way for the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which deemed the segregation of public facilities unlawful.

Born Jan. 3, 1941, in Union County, N.C., McCain grew up in Washington, D.C., where he graduated from Eastern High School in 1959. He enrolled at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (then A&T College) and graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and biology.

McCain went on to become a chemist at Hoechst-Celanese Corporation in Charlotte, N.C., where he worked for nearly 35 years. He also married Bettye Davis, and they had three sons: Franklin Jr., Wendell and Bertrand.

Through the years, McCain’s commitment to his community never wavered. He held memberships in the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, the Bond Campaign for Mecklenburg County, National Conference of Christians and Jews, Bennett College Board of Visitors, and N.C. Central University Board of Trustees. He also had served as chair of the N.C. A&T Board of Trustees, member of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors and elder at Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Among his numerous awards and honors were the U.S. Congressional Citation Award, N.C. Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award, NAACP Achievement Award, and a proclamation and historic marker from the City of Greensboro.

On campus, the February One Monument and four residence halls are constant reminders of the A&T Four’s legacy. On Jan. 16, about 800 family members, friends—including the two surviving members of the A&T Four (Richmond died in 1990)—and others gathered in Harrison Auditorium to pay homage to McCain. Each year, the university celebrates them at commemorative events on or near Feb. 1. This year the 54th Sit-in Anniversary Celebration will be Friday, Jan. 31.

In honor of Franklin E. McCain Sr., his family has established the McCain Family Endowed Scholarship Fund that will benefit N.C. A&T students. Make checks payable to N.C. A&T University Foundation, 200 North Benbow Road, Greensboro, NC 27411.

The University of North Carolina Board of Governors has approved a proposal from Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr., to increase the out-of-state capacity for new freshmen at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

In a letter (dated Jan. 3) to UNC President Tom Ross, Martin requested a 7 percent increase on the current 18 percent cap for out-of-state new freshmen citing the university’s capability to serve the additional number of students without it having a negative impact on in-state enrollment or in-state students. The board approved the request on Jan. 10.

“We are pleased the board of governors agreed to increase the out-of-state student cap at North Carolina A&T State University,” said Martin. “We will continue to increase the university’s academic competitiveness and prepare more students for careers in high-need disciplines locally, regionally and nationally.”

Recruitment efforts for out-of-state students will be focused in the STEM, nursing, education and agricultural disciplines.

As a part of the increase, no qualified in-state student will be denied admission or access to the university to accommodate out-of-state students.