The
late Percy Richardson was a long-time leader of the Haliwa-Saponi
Tribe of Halifax and Warren counties in North Carolina, with a
life-long passion for Native American education, said his granddaughter
Shirly Ann Richardson, whom he called Ann.
Richardson
and her husband, Alonza, of Naples, Fla., established the Percy
Richardson Endowed Memorial Scholarship at The University of North
Carolina at Pembroke in December 2002 to honor the tribal leader.
Although
neither she nor her grandfather attended UNCP, Ann Richardson considers
the University part of her family and tribe. Her other reason was
while attending the Haliwa-Saponi Indian school was that all of
her elementary school teachers were from the Lumbee Tribe. Therefore,
she felt it was appropriate to provide this educational opportunity
for Native Americans, as the scholarship would have been her grandfathers
desire. Especially because he felt education was the key to the
future success of Native Americans.
"The
last time I visited (UNCP) was in the 1960s when my grandfather
was there on tribal business and issues concerning tribal recognition,"
Richardson said.
Richardson,
who is a real estate investor in Florida, maintains ties to her
tribe by attending tribal events, meetings and family reunions.
Many Haliwa-Saponi tribal members attended UNCP over the years with
the encouragement of tribal leaders like Percy Richardson.
"My
grandfather was a skilled carpenter and draftsman, a leader in his
church and a firm believer in education," Richardson said. "He made
every effort to ensure that we had some form of higher education,
whether it was trade school or formal education. He believed that
education was the key to success and opportunities to serve your
people."
Percy
Richardson (Aug. 11, 1914- Feb. 1, 1988) lived in Hollister and
worked in North Carolina and Virginia as a carpenter and draftsman.
He served the state-recognized Haliwa-Saponi Tribe in many capacities,
including interim chief, vice chief and master of ceremonies for
the annual tribal powwow, which is one of the oldest in North Carolina.
Richardson, who was elected vice chief of the Haliwa-Saponi in 1955
and served in that capacity until the late 1980s prior to his death,
worked to improve the lives of his people and his family. He was
instrumental in the "rebirth" of the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe
that lacked organization, identity, recognition and educational
opportunities.
Because
of tribal links between the Haliwa-Saponi and the Lumbee, headquartered
in Pembroke, and because UNCP continues its founding mission to
serve Indian people, the University was entrusted with the legacy
of a great Indian leader.
Ann
and Alonza Richardson contributed a total of $20,000 to an endowment
that will fund a $500 annual scholarship. In addition, the Richardsons
provided an initial $500, bringing the total gift to $20,500. To
qualify for the scholarship, preference will be given to members
of a state recognized tribe, then to a member of a federally recognized
tribe and then to any student seeking a degree in American Indian
Studies.
For
more information about the Percy Richardson Endowed Memorial Scholarship
or other giving opportunities, please contact the Office of Donor
Relations at (910) 521-6213 or email teresa.oxendine@uncp.edu.
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