Michael F. Easley
Governor
State of North Carolina
Office of the Governor
Governor's Press Office
State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27603-8001
(919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005
FAX (919) 733-5166
For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Amanda Wherry/ Sherri Creech Johnson
Date: October 16, 2002 Phone: (919) 733-5612/ (919) 733-2522
GOV. EASLEY NAMES SECTION OF U.S. 52 IN HONOR OF ANDY GRIFFITH
MOUNT AIRY - Gov. Mike Easley joined Board of Transportation leaders, and local, state and federal officials in a ceremony dedicating approximately 10 miles of U.S. 52 in Surry County from Interstate 74 to the Virginia state line the Andy Griffith Parkway. The dedication ceremony honored Mount Airy native and nationally known actor Andy Griffith.
“In an age of instant celebrity, Andy Griffith has earned his fame the old-fashioned way through hard work,” said Easley. “He is the rare performer that has mastered nearly every branch of the entertainment field, from music to stand-up comedy, outdoor theater, Broadway, television shows and movies. Andy Griffith’s countless accomplishments make North Carolinians proud to call him a native Tarheel.”
“There can be no better highway to dedicate to Andy Griffith than U.S. 52 in Surry County,” said Doug Galyon, Chair of the Board of Transportation. “This highway passes through some of the state’s most distinctive scenery. For many citizens, U.S. 52 provided their very first glimpse of Mount Airy, the model for the town of Mayberry.”
Andy Samuel Griffith was born in Mount Airy, North Carolina on June 1, 1926, to Carl and Geneva Griffith. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor's degree in music in 1949. For seven years during college and after graduation, he starred as Sir Walter Raleigh in Paul Greene's acclaimed outdoor drama, The Lost Colony.
From 1949-1951, Griffith worked as a teacher at Goldsboro High School. During this time, he began recording humorous monologues based on a "hillbilly" persona including "What It Was, Was Football," which he performed on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1954.
In 1955, Griffith debuted on Broadway in the play No Time For Sergeants and was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance. He reprised this role on television and in the movies in 1958 and also starred in the movies, A Face in the Crowd and Onionhead.
From 1960 - 1968, Griffith played Sheriff Andy Taylor, one of television’s most beloved characters on The Andy Griffith Show. In the years following The Andy Griffith Show, he starred in numerous television movies, many of which were mysteries. From 1986 – 1995, Griffith also portrayed attorney Ben Matlock in the popular television series Matlock.
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