State

The North Carolinian oi 1967 By BILL SHARPE The North Carolinian of 3967 is Mrs. Fred W. Morrison of Kill Devil Hills, N. C., and Washington, D. C. Тнб State’s committee of judges se¬ lected Mrs. Morrison because of her phenomenally successful leadership of the Roanoke Island Historical As¬ sociation for the past six years. Mrs. Morrison was elected for another two- year term at the December meeting of the Association in Raleigh. The Association’s chief enter¬ prise — presentation of Paul Green’s The Lost Colony since 1937 • — had struggled for 25 years to keep going. There had been a succession of chair¬ men, directors, managers. In 1961, Mrs. Morrison took over a responsi¬ bility which had become known as a thankless and hopeless chore. Almost immediately, the fortunes of The Lost Colony began to change. Promotion was stepped up, both theatre and production were improved, and at¬ tendance and revenues increased. Sol¬ vency replaced near bankruptcy. Mrs. Morrison, widely known and respected in this state and elsewhere, brought new financial and moral sup¬ port to the Association. She gave freely of her time, energy and devotion to the work, and in 1963 was named also as producer of the play, the first per¬ son to hold this title. The “promotion” was a recognition both of her compe¬ tence and dedication. In putting The Lost Colony on a firm, business-like and successful basis, Mrs. Morrison accomplished something that had eluded Lost Colony supporters for nearly three decades, and no persons appreciate this more than the many chairmen who preceded her (including this writer). If you will take their word for it, hers was a contribution to North Carolina deserving of the highest recognition. The North Carolinian of 1967 was born Emma Neal McQueen, attended Laurinburg High School, Flora Mc¬ Donald College and Hardbarger’s Business College in Raleigh. From 1930 to 1933 she was a secretary of Governor O. Max Gardner. Later she was Gardner’s secretary when he opened law offices in Washington, D. C. In 1938 she was married to Fred W. Morrison, Governor Gardner’s law partner, and a year later resigned her secretarial position. The Morrisons have a daughter, Mrs. Walter A. Stroud. In Washington, D. C. Mrs. Mor¬ rison served as President of the Woman’s National Democratic Club, 1950-52; President of the North Caro¬ lina Society of Washington, 1958-60. She was Chairman of the Inaugural Ball Invitation Committee for Presi¬ dent Kennedy’s Inauguration. She has Mrs. Fred W. Morrison served as a Director of the Davis Memorial Goodwill Industries, the Girl Scouts, and the Young Women’s Christian Association. She received the Charles A. Cannon Award from the N. C. Society for the Preservation of Antiquities in 1965. She is listed in “Who’s Who of American Women.” She is a National Trustee of the Harry S. Truman Library. The Morrisons have retained close ties with North Carolina. She is a mem¬ ber of the Board of Visitors of St. Andrews Presbyterian College, and vice-chairman of the Historic Bath Commission. Through the Roanoke Island His¬ torical Association, and also in per¬ sonal effort, the Morrisons have worked with the State of North Caro¬ lina and the National Park Service in the program to expand the Fort Ra¬ leigh National Historic Site. "In getting 'The Lost Colony' on о firm, business-like ond successful basis, she accomplished something which had eluded 'Lost Colony' supporters for nearly three decades." THE STATE, January IS, 1963 9