Political Quotes

“I also rise to make some comments about C.D., or as we all know him, Dick Spangler. I met him about 11 years ago--when I first got into the State legislature--in his office, which is just outside of downtown in Charlotte. From every encounter from that point forward, I never left without learning something more. It could be on any number of topics. I appreciate Senator Burr and all the comments about his legacy. He was amazing. He transformed the university system, made it one of the greatest in the Nation. He was a huge Tar Heels fan. I remember when we had a memorial service for a former University president, and C.D.--or Dick Spangler--spoke. Everybody had been saying this is a celebration, this is a celebration. He got up and said: Folks, this is a very important memorial service, but a celebration is what you do just after the Tar Heels beat the tar out of Duke. He loved the Tar Heels, and he loved the university system. He loved a modern North Carolina, an inclusive North Carolina, a North Carolina as a leader, leading on the integration of schools. I think what I remember most about Dick were those experiences I had in his office. It was easy for me to get to. Oftentimes, I would go there on a Monday before I would go to the airport to come here. Every Monday for about 30 years, he had lunch for all of his employees, and he would be there. He would serve them lunch, and they would spend time together.…”