A Washington student has received the first scholarship awarded from an endowment established by a bequest from one of Beaufort County’s most prominent businessmen and civic leaders.
Heidi Catherine Wallace, 37, who is pursuing an associate in arts degree from Beaufort County Community College, was recently chosen for the Frances and William R. “Bill” Roberson Jr. Scholarship. Wallace, a graduate of Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, Calif., plans to transfer to East Carolina University and pursue a bachelor’s degree in social work after graduating from BCCC.
“I want to thank the family of Frances and Bill Roberson very much for their kindness and the resources in establishing this scholarship,” she said.
The endowment was established through a bequest made in Mr. Roberson’s will following his death in January 2009.
Mr. Roberson and his wife, Frances Morgan Roberson, were active in the civic and religious life of not only of Beaufort County but the state.
Mr. Roberson was chairman and chief executive officer of Roberson’s Beverages, Inc., a family owned business operating several bottling plants in eastern North Carolina from 1946 until 1982. He was past president of both the North Carolina Soft Drink Association and the National Soft Drink Association. He served 12 years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Dr. Pepper Company, Dallas, Texas.
Mr. Roberson also had a long and varied career in broadcasting starting with being a founder of WRRF Radio in Washington in 1942 and WRRZ Radio in Clinton in 1946. A companion FM station in Washington followed in the 50s. He was a founder and for 30 years was chairman and chief executive officer of WITN-TV, an NBC affiliate which went on the air in 1955.
Mr. Roberson was a founding partner of Washington Square Mall and the Smallwood Subdivision.
Among numerous other civic interests, the Robersons were active supporters of the arts in Beaufort County and North Carolina. Mr. Roberson was a member of the board and president of the North Carolina Art Society. He was a trustee of the North Carolina Museum of Art. In 1997, Roberson created a fund at the North Carolina Museum of Art to establish and perpetuate the “William R. Roberson Jr., and Frances M. Roberson Endowment for North Carolina Art.” Proceeds from this endowment are to be used to acquire works of art by North Carolina artists for the museum. The Robersons also contributed a substantial number of paintings from their personal collection to the museum.
Mr. Roberson served as a representative in North Carolina General Assembly from 1966 until 1974 and was an active supporter of education in eastern North Carolina during that time. He introduced or co-introduced legislation Beaufort County Community College, which at that time was a branch of Pitt County Technical Institute, and was active in passing legislation that made possible East Carolina University and the ECU School of Medicine.
Mr. Roberson served as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Transportation from 1981 to 1985.
The Robersons were long-time members of the First Presbyterian Church in Washington, where Mr. Roberson served as an Elder and Deacon.
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