North Carolina State Capitol representatives honored Elon Alumnus Ray Beck ’75 on June 1 when he retired as the capitol’s historical researcher and site manager after more than 30 years.
In 2006, Elon University recognized him as the Alumnus of the Year. Beck graduated from Elon with a bachelor’s degree in history and fromthe University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a master’s degreein history. In 1977, he began working for the capitol as a buildingguide and shortly after he was promoted to history museum specialist I.During this time, he researched and designed all of the exhibits in thecapitol’s museum. Some of his accomplishments include the coordinationof the re-creation of the rooms of the state library, the acquisitionand conservation of an 1823 desk chair from the senate chamber and therestoration of a portrait of George Washington by Thomas Sully.
In November 2005 he was further promoted to historic sites specialistII and administrator of the State Capitol, which he remained until hisretirement. Recently, he received the National Medal for HistoricPreservation from the Society of the Daughters of the AmericanRevolution.