Distinguished Service Award
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| | Layton Getsinger '69
Layton Getsinger, Class of 1969, is a life-long Pirate. Getsinger is a current resident of Statesville, North Carolina. He has steadfastly served his community, his University and his country as a career Naval aviator and Vietnam War veteran.
Following his military career, Getsinger served as associate vice chancellor for Administration and Finance and executive director of Business Services at ECU. In this capacity, he and his team created numerous innovative and creative personnel and customer service initiatives; many of which are still in existence today and serve as a model throughout the UNC system as well as higher education nationwide. These programs either netted or saved the University millions of dollars in precious resources that could be re-deployed for more urgent needs. One of his most notable accomplishments was the sole source pouring rights contract with Pepsi Cola that resulted in the establishment of a $10.1 million scholarship fund for all areas of the University. After leaving the University, Getsinger took over as Chief Operating Officer of CopyPro, Inc.
Concurrent with his professional career, Getsinger also found time to volunteer for the University and served as chair of the Alumni Association in 2005. Under his direction and leadership, the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors revamped the Association with the hiring of Paul Clifford and his team, creation of a strategic plan, and implementing a funding model that has enabled distribution in excess of $100,000 in student scholarships in the last six years.
Getsinger has been recognized over the years for his leadership and courage, which include receiving the City of Greenville Certificate of Appreciation for services rendered during a hostage situation; induction into the 2000 George Whitfield Hall of Fame in 2000 and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society in 2006, named a 1999 Outstanding Alumni Award recipient, named in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities and Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals, as well as numerous commendations for his military career. He is a member of Rotary International, he and his wife Jane are life members of the Alumni Association, and active members of the Pirate Club.
As a student, Getsinger was active in campus life including being head cheerleader, treasurer of Student Government, and business manager of the Buccaneer Yearbook. He was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity.
Getsinger subsequently received a master of arts in international studies from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
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Dr. J. Reid Parrott
Jr. '60, '62
Dr. J. Reid Parrott Jr. '60, '62 is president emeritus of
Nash Community College in Rocky Mount, NC. Despite being retired, Parrott stays
active and involved with education and community organizations through service.
His professional experience includes a variety of titles over 19 years at the
North Carolina Community College System, including vice president for
educational programs, vice president for institutional services, and
coordinator of federal-state relations. Parrott currently serves on the NCC
Foundation Board of Directors, is a member of ECU’s Thomas Harriot College of
Arts & Sciences Dean’s Advancement Council, is an executive committee
member of the East Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and chair of
the board for Rocky Mount Southern Bank. He is also active in the Kiwanis Club,
where he is a former president, and the First United Methodist Church of Rocky
Mount, where he served as chair of the Board of Trustees. He is a longtime
member of the Pirate Club and a former board member of the East Carolina Alumni
Association.
Parrott is former president of the North Carolina
Association of Colleges & Universities as well as the NCC Foundation Board.
He has served as chair of the Nash County Board of Social Services and Nash
County Building for Education. In 2006, Senator Marc Basnight appointed Parrott
to the NC Commission on Technology for Public Schools.
In 2008 Nash Community College awarded Dr. Parrott the
President’s Cup, the most prestigious award given by the College. He was the
College’s commencement speaker that same year.
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Honorary Alumni Award
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| | Mavis Ray
Mavis Ray had a significant impact on students and faculty alike as teacher, choreographer, and dancer at East Carolina University. One of the founding members of ECU’s School of Theatre and Dance, Ray joined ECU’s faculty as teacher and choreographer for the drama department in 1964, after having been assistant to famed dancer and choreographer Agnes de Mille in New York City. During her 25 years at the School, Ray choreographed more than 75 musicals, several operas, and numerous dance performances. She was named professor emeritus upon her retirement in 1989.
Ray’s training included but is not limited to the Royal Academy of Dance in London, the School of American Ballet under George Balanchine, the Imperial School, and the Robert Joffrey Ballet. She founded the New Jersey School of Ballet, taught at Carnegie Hall, the Joffrey Ballet, “The Lost Colony,” where she also played Queen Elizabeth, and was ballet mistress at Ballet De Caracas in Venezuela. Ray was also a stage performer on Broadway and toured the United States in a number of musicals, operas, and ballets. In the early 1980s, Ray took hiatus from ECU to appear in the film version of Annie as Mrs. Greer. Ray also acted in several television shows. She was a member of the Actors’ Equity Association, Screen Actors’ Guild, American Federation of TV and Radio Artists, and the North Carolina Dance Alliance.
Ray received ECU’s Outstanding Teacher Award and was recognized as a Tarheel of the Week by the News and Observer for her outstanding service to eastern North Carolina as a choreographer and performer. Ray passed away in 2009 at the age of 87.
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| | Clarence Stasavich
Coach Clarence Stasavich, “Coach Stas” to most, served East Carolina as head football coach, athletic director, and physical education teacher. He arrived at East Carolina College in 1962 with more than 20 years coaching experience and went on to lead the Gridiron Pirates to three consecutive bowl game victories from 1963-1965 and the Southern Conference Title in 1966. In 1964, Stasavich was voted National Football Coach of the Year by both the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the American Football Coaches Association. Stasavich served as head football coach until 1969 and was the third-winningest active coach after “Bear” Bryant of Alabama and Johnny Vaught of Ole Miss. Coach Stas remained athletic director at East Carolina until his death in 1975.
On the field Stasavich was known for his “single-wing” offense. This success led him to 120 wins, 37 losses, and seven ties throughout his career. While athletic director for East Carolina, Stasavich also focused on developing the University’s modern, all-purpose athletic complex, which includes Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Minges Coliseum and Natatorium, Scales Field House, and Harrington and Bunting Fields.
As a 1935 graduate of Lenoir Rhyne College, Stasavich led his alma mater to great victory as head football coach for 16 years prior to his installation at ECC. He also spent time at Campbell College as football line coach, assistant basketball coach, and head tennis coach. During World War II, Stasavich served as LT Commander in the Navy and quickly returned to coaching following his homecoming.
Coach Stas was inducted into East Carolina’s Athletics Hall of Fame, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the National Association Directors Hall of Fame, the Helms Football Foundation Hall of Fame, and the Florida Citrus Bowl Hall of Fame.
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Outstanding Alumni Award
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| | Brigadier General Catherine Chilton '81
U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Catherine Chilton '81 is mobilization assistant to the commander, electronic systems center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. After receiving a bachelor of science in applied physics at East Carolina, Chilton began her military career as a test director in the 4950th Test Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio. Following completion of the flight test engineering course in 1984, she received many assignments, including deputy test director of special projects, 3246th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, Florida; aeronautical engineer at San Antonio Air Logistics Center at Kelly AFB in Texas; analytical test manager at Headquarters Space Warfare Center, Schriever AFB, Colorado; senior individual mobilization augmentee to the director of space Operations and integration and deputy chief of staff for Air and Space Operations at the U.S. Air Force Headquarters in Washington, D.C.; and deputy director of Kinetic Interceptors at the Missile Defense Agency in Washington, D.C., among others.
In 1993 Chilton received a master’s degree in electro-optics from the University of Houston and later participated in the Air Command and Staff College, Air War College, and Senior Acquisition Management Course at the Defense Acquisition University in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She obtained her current rank of Brigadier General in 2009.
In 2007 Chilton was awarded the National Aeronautic Association’s Katharine Wright Award for rigorous work in engineering, test, acquisition, and policy to the advancement of air and space technology. This award was established in 1981 and named for the sister of Orville and Wilbur Wright.
Chilton has received numerous awards and decorations throughout her career, including Meritorious Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, and the National Defense Service Medal with bronze star. She currently serves as a board member for the Durham Museum in Omaha, Nebraska.
Chilton has four daughters with husband Kevin Chilton, who is commander of strategic command for Offutt AFB in Omaha, Nebraska and a former NASA astronaut.
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| | Christine “Chris” Joyner Greene '57
Christine “Chris” Joyner Greene '57 spent her career providing education and guidance to young people and helping her community. In 2009, with 50 years experience in education, North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue appointed her to the North Carolina Board of Education. Greene is also board chair of the North Carolina Board of Licensed Professional Counselors, as appointed by former Gov. Mike Easley in 2007. Greene holds the National President title on the American Association of State Counseling Boards, serves on the United Way of North Carolina Board, is a member of the Mount Olive College Board of Trustees, is a life-time board member of the Salvation Army of High Point, and was appointed by former Gov. James Hunt Jr. to the North Carolina Standards Board for Public School Administration.
Greene’s community of High Point, North Carolina certainly realizes her dedication as she was named its Citizen of the Year in 2001. She has spent countless hours serving as a leader for the High Point Convention and Visitors Bureau, the High Point Economic Development Commission, High Point Crime Stoppers, the High Point Chamber of Commerce, the High Point Area Arts Council, and the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival. Greene has also volunteered for a number of community organizations, including the American Red Cross, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater High Point, Guilford County Alcohol and Drug Services, Family Service of the Piedmont, the YMCA of High Point, Communities in Schools, Catholic Social Services, and Maryfield Nursing Home, among others.
Greene has received additional recognition for her community service and advocacy with awards like the Alex de Tocqueville Award in 2007, the Community Hero award from the United Way of Greater High Point in 1997, the Small Business Advocate of the Year award from the High Point Chamber in 2004, and “Chris Greene Day” by the High Point City Council in 1996. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Department of Counseling and Educational Development awarded Greene the Distinguished Practitioner Award in 2008 and UNC-G’s School of Education awarded Greene the Distinguished Career Award in 2009.
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| | Walter Williams '51, '55
Walter Williams ’51, ’55 is founder of Trade Oil Company and Trade Mart, a chain of gas stations and convenience stores in eastern North Carolina. In 2005, Trade Oil Company merged with WilcoHess and Williams became its executive vice president. He currently also serves as president of Trade Oil, a real estate company. Williams is a key booster, supporter, and advocate of East Carolina University and has been recognized with numerous University honors, including an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree in 2008. One of ECU Athletics’ most ardent supporters, Williams has been involved with the Pirate Club since 1966. The University’s basketball arena in Minges Coliseum is named for Williams and the Strength and Conditioning Center is also named for Williams and his wife Marie ’53. The Clark-LeClair Stadium Jungle is also named in the couple’s honor. In 2007 Williams was honored with the prestigious Council for Advancement and Support of Education District III Bill Franklin Volunteer of the Year Award for his long-term impact on the institution, higher education, and for his significant role in fundraising, alumni relations, and recruiting students.
Over the years Williams has dedicated much of his time to East Carolina through service on boards and committees, including the University’s Board of Trustees; the ECU Foundation; a term as executive president for the ECU Educational Foundation, which he is currently a director emeritus; HHP Advancement Council; co-chair of both ECU’s Shared Visions Capital and Kick-Off to Victory Campaigns; and the baseball stadium campaign. Together with Marie, the couple has funded the Williams Leadership Awards, the Walter & Marie Williams Endowment for Health and Human Performance Scholarships, three scholarships for student-athletes, and the Supporting Transition and Education Through Planning and Partnership (STEPP) Endowment Program, among others. The STEPP program, which is maintained within the College of Education, enables students with learning disabilities to earn a college degree and pursue a career.
Williams is also active in the Greenville-Pitt County community. He currently serves Pitt Community College as a member of its Board of Trustees, as an adult education program volunteer, and assists with the baseball capital campaign. Williams has supported the Council on Aging, the Salvation Army, Immanuel Baptist Church, and the Building Hope After School program, among others. In 2008 Williams received the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Legends Award for his exemplary contributions for the betterment of the community and in 2002 was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which recognizes achievements of outstanding North Carolina citizens.
At East Carolina, Williams received the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 1996, the Virgil Clark Award for Lifetime Achievement and Service in 2000, was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001 and Educator’s Hall of Fame in 2004, and was named a College of Health and Human Performance Centennial Leader in 2008. He currently is co-chair of ECU Athletics’ Step Up To The Highest Level Campaign.
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