North Carolina State University Athletics
Getting to Know: WPC District Reps
4/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Wolfpack Club
April 12, 2011
Editor's note: As the Wolfpack Club celebrates the 75th anniversary of its founding in 1936 during its annual spring caravan, GoPack.com will profile the district representatives who help organize events and outings in their areas and are an integral part of the organization's fundraising efforts on behalf of NC State student-athletes. Monday night, the Wolfpack Club Caravan traveled to Fayetteville.
Frank Lewis
Region: District IV (Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Sampson counties).
Hometown: Lillington
Current residence: Lillington
Occupations: 19 plus years as business manager at the North Carolina Justice Academy in Salemburg; five years in Secretary of State Office as Deputy for Elaine Marshall; five years Governor’s Budget Office working with salaries, health benefits and retirement; Retired... but has worked last seven years at Varsity Men's Wear in Raleigh.
Family: Wife (Betty); children (daughter Lacey Piner, son Norman Lewis); grandchildren: Chally, C. J., Maliegh)
Wolfpack Club member since: 1971
NC State graduate: 1972 (undergraduate degree in economics; Masters in Public Administration in 1987)
Q. Was there an event or particular season that made you become an NC State fan?
A. I was a Carolina fan as a child. In 1959 I went to Riddick Stadium to see (quarterback) Roman Gabriel play. That’s my first memory of going to a football game at N.C. State. Another thing I remember is sneaking upstairs with my radio and listening to the basketball games (announced by) Ray Reeve.
Q. What made you join the Wolfpack Club?
A. No. 1, it’s a good organization. I also wanted to go to football and basketball events and that was a way to go to those games and be a supporter.
Q. How did you become a district leader?
A. I was a county rep when I was in Sampson County. When I moved back to Lillington, I became a county rep in Harnett County and was chairman of the Harnett County Reps. When they reorganized the state and made more regions, Bobby (Purcell) asked me to take over the district chair.
Q. How strong is the NC State fan base in your district?
A. There are about 475 donors. That’s about three percent of the Wolfpack donors overall.
Q. Do you have a favorite NC State student-athlete?
A. That’s a tough one. I think David Thompson would be my favorite basketball player and Philip Rivers my favorite football player. They just come along once in a lifetime.
Q. What is your favorite memory involving NC State athletics?
A. The 1983 national championship (basketball) game.
Q. Did you participate in organized athletics?
A. I played football and basketball at Lillington High.
Q. In what ways are you involved in your community now?
A. I’m a session member of the Presbyterian Church; Chairman of the Lillington Planning Board; Chairman of a Committee for industrial development for Harnett County.
Bobby Purcell says: “Another wonderful person who is involved with the leadership of the Wolfpack Club. He organizes his own small golf tournament every spring in Harnett County, above and beyond what he does with the Spring Caravan. A lot of our coaches go to that. He’s retired, but he is still active, working part-time. You’ll see him at a lot of our events wearing a red bowtie and red pants. He's a valuable member of the club's organization.”
