Background
He was born in Lucama, North Carolina in 1915.
chancellor educator president Kenan professor
He was born in Lucama, North Carolina in 1915.
North Carolina State University. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
A native of Lucama, North Carolina, Aycock served the University of North Carolina for nearly 40 years from his first faculty appointment in the School of Law in 1948 to his retirement as Kenan professor in 1985. He was named chancellor in 1957 and led the university in that capacity until 1964. A 1948 graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Law, Aycock was first in his class and editor-in-chief of the North Carolina Law Review.
He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit.
He was the first recipient of the University of North Carolina School of Law"s McCall Teaching Award, and eventually received it a total of five times. In 1990, as a tribute to his chancellorship, the department of family medicine’s building was named for Aycock.
This honor was in keeping with his long-standing interest in the field of medicine, and his support of family medicine as a way to address the health-care needs of North Carolina"s rural citizens. Aycock was a cousin of North Carolina Governor Charles Brantley Aycock and is best known to sports fans as the man who hired legendary basketball coach Dean Smith.
He was chancellor when Frank McGuire resigned when faced with recruiting violations at the end of the 1960-1961 season.
McGuire decided to leave and coach Wilt Chamberlain and the Philadelphia Warriors, before later moving to the University of South Carolina. When Aycock hired Smith, he told the 30-year-old coach that wins and losses did not count as much as running a clean program and representing the university well. This charge is somewhat ironic, as Smith led the Tar Heels to 879 wins over 36 years.
He also holds a master’s degree in history from University of North Carolina, and a bachelor’s degree in education from North Carolina State University where he was president of the student body and a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.