Dan Blue

DURHAM, N.C. — North Carolina Representative Daniel T. Blue will keynote the N.C. Central University Fall Commencement Dec. 14 at 9 a.m. in the McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.

Blue, a native of Lumberton, N.C., was considered a leader in academics and campus politics during his tenure at NCCU.

He graduated from NCCU with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and later attended Duke University School of Law.

After receiving his juris doctor in 1973, Blue was hired by Sanford, Adams, McCullough and Beard law firm, making him one of the first blacks to integrate one of the state’s major law firms.

His desire to lead his own practice, however, led him to leave and form a firm with several of his associates in 1976.

Today, Blue is the managing partner at Thigpen, Blue, Stephens and Fellers law firm in Raleigh, N.C.

Blue ran for political office in 1980 and was elected by Wake County to the North Carolina House of Representatives.

Since then, he has been re-elected 10 times and has served as chairman of the judiciary and appropriations committees.

In 1991, he was elected Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives and was re-elected to this office in January 1993.

Blue, a former president of the National Conference of State Legislatures, served twice as chairman of the Clinton/Gore campaign in North Carolina. He has also served on the executive committees of the Southern Legislative Conference and the State and Local Legal Center,

He is the recipient of nine honorary doctorate degrees.