Alex M. Rivera Athletics Hall of Fame
Luther R. “Nick” Jeralds was captain of the 1959 Eagle football team, was named to the All-CIAA listings in 1960, and made the CIAA All-Academic Team in both 1959 and 1960. In 1961 he received a scholarship award to seniors who had maintained a two-point average (B) on a three-point scale.
He graduated with honors – bachelor of science in commerce – in 1961, and played professional football with the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Texans from 1961 to 1963.
He was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives for the first time in 1982, and in 1983 became the first freshman and first black legislator appointed by the Speaker of the House to the Advisory Budget Commission. He has won subsequent reelections to the House in 1984 and 1986, and has been reappointed each time to the Advisory Budget Commission. He was appointed in 1985 and 1987 as chair of the House Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs.
(bio from program at the time of induction)
