The former chief justice of the N.C. Supreme Court received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree before giving the Baccalaureate address on Friday, May 20.
In his message “This I believe. What do you believe?” delivered during Elon’s Baccalaureate service in Alumni Gymnasium Friday afternoon, Frye explained to the Class of 2016 that he spent a lifetime reading, asking questions and learning all that he could when he didn’t know or understand something.
“There were many things that I didn’t understand so I read a lot, and I asked a lot of questions,” the former North Carolina chief justice said about his childhood. “Sometimes I did not understand all the answers so I kept on reading and asking questions.”
It’s an approach that served him well throughout his very long and distinguished career in service to the state. “When I was elected to the North Carolina legislature I also did not always understand the answers,” Frye said. “But I learned a lot. I learned to ‘read between the lines,’ so to speak.”
There are many firsts associated with Frye’s name. He was the first African-American elected to the North Carolina legislature in the 20th century. He was the first African-American to be an assistant U.S. Attorney in North Carolina. He founded and served as president of the first black-owned bank in Greensboro, North Carolina. He was the first African-American named to the North Carolina Supreme Court and to be named chief justice of that court.
Frye, who retired in March from the practice of law, spent a lifetime fighting for fairness and justice and held many leadership roles in nonprofit, academic, professional and civic organizations. Frye graduated summa cum laude from North Carolina A&T State University and received his law degree with honors from the University of North Carolina. Frye, who lives in Greensboro, is a visiting professor of political science and justice at North Carolina A&T State University. He also helped launch Elon’s School of Law in 2006 as a charter member of the school’s advisory board.
In his address, Frye shared examples from his own life, cited poetry and even sang a verse from “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” to explain some of his beliefs.
Nurture both body and spirit.
“If we want to get better, we have to practice the things that helps us get better,” Frye said. “For most of us, we will feel better, be better and enjoy life much better if we exercise regularly, eat sensibly and go to bed at night.” He also recommended they feed their spirit “through regular contact with the deity (by whatever name)” and not just when they are in trouble.
Begin each day with a smile.
“Aren’t you glad to be alive? In a free country with a reasonable portion of health and strength, practice smiling,” he said. “You will feel better, and you will be a more likeable person.”
Follow the Golden Rule.
“Treat people the way that you would like for them to treat you,” he said. “I’ve tried it, and I declare unto you, it works. It takes a little practice, but most anything that is worth doing on a daily basis is worth taking the time to practice.”
It is better to turn on a light than to curse the darkness.
“One night I heard a group of men complaining about boys playing in the street,” Frye said. “Then someone said: ‘You know, look at that empty field over there. Why don’t we fix that up as a place for these boys to play?’ Well, they did. The boys were happy, and the adults were happy. I know that many Elon students, maybe all of you, have found ways to turn on a light. My message to you is keep on keeping on.”
There is a value in personal communication.
“I believe that every now and then, it would be good, whether it’s the members of a family or friends or co-workers, to turn their cell phones off and have a nice, friendly, personal conversation,” he said. “Try it every now and then. Don’t let it become a lost art.”
“Marriage is not a 50-50 proposition,” he emphasized. “Marriage is a 100-100 commitment to the success of the marriage. If you are thinking about marriage (and you have a choice), get counseling separately and together prior to the wedding.”
Before Frye spoke, University Chaplain Jan Fuller remembered Trent Stetler, a member of the Class of 2016, who died in January 2015. “We honor him today and remember him with both sadness and joy,” Fuller said.