Madison Taylor

Our editorial going Wednesday about the late Gov. Jim Holshouser, who died Monday. He spoke at Boys State when I was a delegate there in the summer of 1976.

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It could be argued that former Gov. James E. Holshouser is among the most significant Republican figures in North Carolina of the 20th century. His hard-fought victory in the governor’s race of 1972 against Hargrove “Skipper” Bowles was a landmark in state GOP politics, ending nearly a century of control by the previously unbeatable Democratic Party and turning North Carolina into a state where two-party politics were not only possible, but likely and finally inevitable.

A state lawmaker from Boone at age 28 and the state’s youngest governor ever at 38, Holshouser was also chairman for the North Carolina Republican Party by age 32. He rode a fast track to leadership with a gentle courtesy that drew the envy of his peers and the admiration of his Democratic opponents. Ultimately, Holshouser, who died Monday at age 78, is recalled as a lifelong proponent for education in North Carolina who also cast a shadow in the worlds of religion, law and the environment.

Holshouser’s rise in state politics was a longshot at the time it occurred. In what turned into an unlikely combination with fellow Republican Jesse Helms, Holshouser reshaped the Tar Heel State’s political landscape. Both rose to statewide prominence in the election of 1972 — aided by President Richard Nixon’s landslide victory over George McGovern nationally. It signaled the beginning of an overall shift by Southern voters to the Republican Party after years of straight-ticket Democratic voting.

What happened thereafter would be a primer for state politics for the next four decades. Helms took his seat in the U.S. Senate and became a vocal and controversial national voice for the bedrock conservatism that led to the rise of Ronald Reagan. Holshouser, more businesslike, low key and moderate, still identified himself as a conservative but not an anti-government Libertarian.

Those who thought Holshouser not Republican enough — and he was booed at the 1976 state convention by Helms supporters — failed to understand his undying commitment to the GOP. After undergoing a kidney transplant in 1986 Holshouser told his longtime friend, former Elon University president Earl Danieley, that he received a Democrat for a kidney, “It gives more than it takes in.”

Holshouser wasn’t much for divisive political rhetoric and tried to use a gentlemanly approach when he found himself battling a policy wall in Raleigh buttressed by a General Assembly stacked with Democrats. Still, he managed to establish health clinics to rural areas in need of medical support, endorsed expansion of the state park system and appointed minorities and women to posts in state government when it wasn’t being done. He supported a statewide kindergarten system and the Coastal Management Act to protect the state barrier islands and beaches.

After leaving office, Holshouser, a graduate of Davidson and the University of North Carolina School of Law, remained an advocate for education. He served on the UNC Board of Governors and later on the Board of Advisers for the Elon University School of Law. He continued to stay in touch with the state’s leaders, including Democrat Jim Hunt, who was lieutenant governor under Holshouser before serving four terms as governor. Later, Holshouser started a law practice with another former Democratic governor, Terry Sanford.

He was an example to his contemporaries such as U.S. Rep. Howard Coble of Greensboro who has represented Alamance County for nearly three decades in Congress. He was a role model for emerging leaders such as Gov. Pat McCrory, who sought Holshouser’s guidance during his campaigns and as he took office earlier this year.

Coble, who was a member of Holshouser’s cabinet as Secretary of the Department of Revenue, put his friend’s career into perspective.

 “What Jim Holshouser accomplished for the North Carolina Republican Party will be enshrined in the history books for all time,” Coble said. “Thanks to his leadership and determination, the GOP went from being on the back benches of power to the lofty position it holds today. That is one of Jim Holshouser’s greatest legacies.”

Judging by divided politics of today, the state could use a few more Jim Holshousers.

I wanted to say a few kind words about our local spelling champ, who made it to the third round of the Scripps Spelling Bee. I also wanted put in a good word for spelling itself, something that may become a lost art — if it already hasn’t. Put together this editorial for Friday.

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In an evolving world dominated by digital communication one of those things that seem to be falling by the wayside is the ability to spell.

Yes, lost in a sea of texts riddled with mongrelized language polluted by “u r’s” and “thx’s” and “probs” is the idea that a correctly spelled word matters anymore.

Believe us, it does.

That’s why we tend to gush a little when it comes to the annual Scripps Spelling Bee, held each spring near Washington. This year, once again, Alamance County sent an entrant — the local winner of the 20th Times-News Spelling Bee held in February, who joined nearly 300 other contestants from around the nation.

Ryan Steed, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Turrentine Middle School in Burlington, knew before taking the stage at Gaylord National Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., that he faced long odds of just getting into the nationally televised semifinals and finals on ESPN2 and ESPN. After all, North Carolina hasn’t had a national spelling champ since 1970, when an entrant from Winston-Salem by the name of Libby Childress managed the feat. The winning word that year? “Croissant.”

In fact, just getting on TV is a major achievement these days. Only 41 spellers make the semifinals. Ryan managed to get through round three after correctly spelling “grobian.” For those unfamiliar — and you can include us on that list — it means someone rude or slovenly.

Not that we don’t know a few people who fit that description.

In all, though, Ryan had a lot of company. Nearly 250 spellers also emerged from round three. A computer test of 48 questions taken earlier in the week decided the 41 who made the semifinals. Ryan needed a 32 to move on, but scored a respectable 27, and was excited to do it.

His mom, Julie, was also pretty pleased.

“There’s a lot of brain power in that group of 41,” Julie told the Times-News. “I’m very proud of the way Ryan carried himself. It’s definitely an experience we won’t forget.”

Indeed, entrants face a daunting gauntlet of words most will never see or use again. The winning words the last three years were these forehead-furrowing selections: “guetapens,” “cymotrichous” and “stromuhr.” Spellers study for months, even years, before getting to this point in competition. Julie Steed said most of those who advanced to the semifinals have qualified for the nationals before, or come from families where siblings did.

Amid such intense competition, Ryan felt he did pretty well.

“I wasn’t too far off, so I’m OK with that,” Ryan said.

Congratulations to Ryan and all of the spellers who made the annual Bee, which has become something of a must-see TV event. We’re gratified to see so many young people take the time and make the effort to be great spellers and contribute to the use of language in a positive way.

But we also note, sadly, that no speller from North Carolina made the semifinals this year. The long Tar Heel drought for a national spelling champion will continue.

Just now getting around to posting an edit I wrote for the past weekend about Elon’s decsion in the Chick-Fil-A matter — an issue that swelled into a major controversy, which it probably shouldn’t have. Another sign of the times.

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Perhaps no single issue in recent memory has divided the Elon University community more than the furor over whether the fast-food business Chick-Fil-A should be allowed to continue to operate on campus.

Thursday, after months of discussion, protests and sometimes vociferous debate, the board of trustees for the private university decided that fried chicken sandwiches and waffle fries would remain available at Elon. It did so after lengthy study and deliberations from a 15-member Vendor Policy Study Committee put in place when the controversy began to brew, It included students, faculty, staff, trustees and alumni.

It was the correct call on many levels. But the primary reason is because the decision maintains a credible standard at Elon for fostering discussion and conflicting opinions over important national issues.

In these days of manufactured outrage at a moment’s notice, nothing could be more timely or welcome.

“Removing Chick-Fil-A solely on the basis of the owners’ stated views or their lawful philanthropic choices would stand in opposition to Elon’s mission statement, which encourages freedom of thought and liberty of conscience,” an email to students from the Board of Trustees stated.

While we disagree with the public stance expressed by Chick-Fil-A leadership, we wholeheartedly agree with Elon’s decision.

Chick-Fil-A found itself in the center of controversy nationally last year as states, including North Carolina, debated same-sex marriage. Chick-Fil-A CEO Dan Cathy publicly supported the idea of the historically traditional family and opposition to marriage between gay people. Of particular concern to many in the Elon community was the company’s contributions through Winshape, its charitable wing, to organizations that some describe as anti-gay.

The issue roiled campuses at Duke University and Elon. At Elon, members of the student government association voted to kick Chick-Fil-A off campus. The president of the student association vetoed the vote. SGA members tried to overturn the veto, but didn’t have the votes.

While the Times-News has publicly endorsed the concept of same-sex marriage as a right guaranteed by the Constitution, we also believe it is the right of businesses that otherwise comply with laws against discrimination to believe what they wish. Consumers are then free to make purchasing decisions that will determine whether a specific company succeeds or fails.

According to the trustees, Chick-Fil-A products are offered at Elon via its food service contract with Aramark, whose employees are protected by a non-discrimination policy similar to that in place at Elon. The trustees found no evidence of discrimination at Elon linked to Chick-Fil-A. The trustees also said that after months of public outcry, Chick-Fil-A has backed away from its political stands on gay rights issues, including the charitable foundation with which it is affiliated.

The lengthy statement by the trustees, supported in a letter to students from Elon University President Leo Lambert and SGA Executive President Welsford Bishopric, make it clear that campus leadership took many factors into consideration before rendering a decision that obviously had a strong impact on its community.

“Today’s communication from the Board of Trustees calls upon our community to further commit ourselves to building a campus climate of respectful and meaningful civic dialogue,” the letter from Lambert and Bishopric states.

It’s a standard worthy of applause in this day and age.