Notable Heels

“What is it that binds us to this place as to no other? It is not the well or the bell or the stone walls. Or the crisp October nights or the memory of dogwoods blooming. Our loyalty is not only to William Richardson Davie, though we are proud of what he did 200 years ago today. Nor even to Dean Smith, though we are proud of what he did last March. No, our love for this place is based on the fact that it is, as it was meant to be, the University of the people.”

— Charles Kuralt, Journalist, Host of “On the Road” and “Sunday Morning,” at the UNC Bicentennial in 1993.  (Source: Steven J. Tepper. The Chronicles of the Bicentennial Observance of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina, 1998, p. 219.)

For audio of this excerpt:  Listen to Charles Kuralt

Nah, Charles Kuralt didn’t play basketball or any other sport at UNC as far as I know, but he is a UNC alumnus whose work I respect and have enjoyed for many years.  I could say the same for Andy Griffith.  There’s  just something about Kuralt’s voice, style, substance, and demeanor that make him unforgettable and endearing to me.

Although Kuralt and Griffiith for years were household names, they are only two of many well-known and accomplished alumni from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  You’ll find the numerous pro athletes and Olympic athletes hailing from UNC listed on the Tar Heel Pros pages along with some of their accomplishments.  But for a more comprehensive list of notable UNC alumni from numerous fields, click on the link below.  I bet you’ll be surprised!

An Interesting and Extensive List of Notable Tar Heels from Wikipedia