I remember back in the spring of 2005 seeing Bill Thorpe at a Democratic Party State Executive Committee meeting, or maybe it was the state convention. I had come to know him during his advocacy efforts surrounding the re-naming of what was then Airport Rd. in Chapel Hill. Due largely to his efforts, it is now Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. that serves as our town's primary north/south route. We talked for several minutes during which I shared with him how impressed I was by his ability to rally the community around what had become a very controversial re-naming decision. He had first gained his organizing skills decades earlier as a Councilmember when he helped lead the effort to have our Town be one of the first in the country to recognize Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday as a holiday and he played no small roll in negotiations with UNC during the planning and siting of the Dean Dome. One of his other achievements of which he was most proud was his membership on a committee that re-wrote our town Charter in the late 1970s.
During our conversation I remember telling him how pleased I would be if he were to consider running again for a seat on Council. I had been inspired by his energy and organizing skills and equally so by his commitment and love of our community. Later that summer Bill called me and told me that he had continued to think about what we had talked about and decided that yes, he would throw his hat in the ring again. I was very pleased. In October, a few weeks before election day, we shared a booth at Festifall. On the campaign trail he was confident, but approachable, and willing to talk to anyone about any issue. He held strong opinions on civil rights issues and neighborhood protection. He come in fourth -- good enough to regain his seat. I've enjoyed every meeting serving with him since.
Over the last three years he demanded that the Council consider the historical context of our decisions. He had lived and participated vigorously in that history and encouraged each of us to reflect on how our decisions in the present would create that history, and precedent, for future generations.
Thank you Bill for your service, your leadership, your humor, and your friendship.
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During my lunch, I peered off into the sunset from my office which overlooks the Capital Dome in Washington, DC feeling proud of my accomplishments for the year. In a couple days, I would be flying into RDU and decided I would make a detour to Chapel Hill to see someone from my past.
That’s when I decided to Google the person whom I met for the first time when I was 14. The last time we spoke was 6 years later when I turned 20. Twenty-four years have passed. My life would be nothing without him – in a physical sense. He is key to my existence. Today, I learned, he is gone – my biological father.
For years, I anguished on why he did not and would not acknowledge me. As I reviewed the online eulogy, I was surprise to discover in death that we were more alike than he could have ever imagined.
Like my biological father, I thrive on political involvement. While living in Charlotte, I started a television talk show because I was upset that the County Commissioner used the ‘N’ word in a meeting. The Charlotte Observer or the local news did not act on the story and the public was complacent because they were not informed. So, I ventured into a field that was not a part of my background to find a solution.
This year, I traveled with the Obama campaign to Pennsylvania, Ohio and North Carolina. While in Raleigh, during the spring, I thought I may run into him at the Obama Headquarters. It was the week before the NC primaries. It didn’t happen, but I debated on calling. I did try once when I got back to DC, but received no answer. I wasn’t about to leave a voicemail, so I just moved on.
My emotions are mixed. How do I react to this when I hardly knew him? Why didn’t he want to know me or be a part of my life? I forgave him years ago and continued to pray for him. Regardless, my heavenly father has taken great care of me.
In death, I will give acknowledgement to William Henry Thorpe.
May GOD Bless the Thorpe Family!
Cara Pearson
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