N.C. A&T Alumni Times - September 24

Mr. Nathaniel Hines ’52 was born Sept. 28, 1920, to Cicero and Amanda Hines in Bladenboro, North Carolina. Before attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, he enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 11, 1941, during World War II and completed tours of duty in France, Germany, Belgium, and Japan within four and half years.

“After I was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, I read about North Carolina A&T, and my late wife, Lottie, encouraged me to attend,” he said. “I was a non-traditional student, married with two daughters, and I lived in military housing near Market Street.”

While at A&T, Hines worked full-time with the U.S. Department of State and served as president of the Business Students. In 1952, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in commercial education with a concentration in accounting. After graduation, he worked in Washington, D.C., for the federal government and city government. His wife, Lottie Odell Baldwin, passed away April 22, 1964.

That same year, Hines accepted an assignment with the Peace Corps in Liberia, West Africa, where he served as an associate director. After two years, he completed his assignment and returned to the United States and remarried to Ivory Jean Chamblee.

In 1970, Hines moved to Raleigh, North Carolina and was employed by the North Carolina Community Action Agency. He later accepted a role as an internal auditor with North Carolina State University where he would retire in 1987, a year after his wife, Ivory passed away.

Hines continues to be very active with his church, Rush Metropolitan AME Zion Church, where he serves on the board of trustees, Sunday school team, music ministry, Sons of Varick Men’s Fellowship and other ministries. He is also known to be a fitness enthusiast, going to the gym three times a week and walking 3.5 miles. In January 2020, he was featured by WTVD 11 Raleigh for his active lifestyle.

“One hundred years of life has taught me to be a loving and contributing person who always thinks before speaking and who continues to trust God,” said Hines. “I know it sounds cliché, but I live by the golden rule: ‘Do unto others as I would have them do unto me.’”

Because of Hines’ hard work and dedication, the Raleigh/Wake Alumni Chapter of North Carolina A&T State University has established a scholarship in his name. The $500 scholarship for book fees is awarded to A&T students from Wake County with a minimum GPA of 3.3. To learn more details about the scholarship and upcoming deadlines, please click here.

“Aggie Pride means so much to me and I get fired up and excited when I hear it. I bleed blue and gold,” he said. “I used to attend all of the homecoming games and my kids and grandkids would always ask me what I wanted for my birthday, and I would say, ‘Money for homecoming.’”

For Hines’ 100th birthday, Rush Metropolitan AME Zion Church will honor him with a virtual celebration via Zoom on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 2 p.m. The occasion will feature remarks from special guests, family, and friends followed by a birthday drive-by celebration.