Monday, March 31, 2014

Walter McNeil Jr, Longest Serving Council Member, Has Died

Sanford public servant Walter McNeil, Jr. died on Sunday, March 30 at Central Carolina Hospital.

Sworn into office in January 1981, McNeil was the first African American member of the Sanford City Council. He served faithfully and consecutively for 33 years and was last re-elected in November 2011. McNeil served three terms as Mayor Pro Tem: December 1993 through December 1997 and December 2005 through December 2007.

McNeil was appointed to the Board of Directors of the N.C. League of Municipalities for 2005-06. As a board member, McNeil represented and advocated for the seventh district, which includes the cities and towns in Lee, Harnett, Cumberland, Hoke, Moore, Sampson, and Scotland counties.

A tireless champion of Sanford and its residents, McNeil started Sanford’s National Night Out crime prevention program in 1993. He was a guiding force in bringing parks to local neighborhoods. The Walter H. McNeil, Jr Park in Ward 4 was named after him by the community as a show of gratitude for his support and dedication.






McNeil was a retired educator who received his B.A. in Education from Winston-Salem State University and an M.A. in Administration from North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro. He is survived by his wife Billie and son Michael.

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