The first African American and also the first North Carolinian to serve as quartermaster general is being honored with the "Albemarle Profile: Maj. Gen. Hawthorne L. Proctor, Jr., U.S. Army (Retired)" exhibit at the Museum of the Albemarle now through September. The free exhibit includes the general's uniform and various awards he received during his career and donated to the museum.
A native of Newland in Pasquotank County, Proctor attended P.W. Moore High School in Elizabeth City. As a member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), he began military training in college at North Carolina A&T. A Distinguished Military Graduate of the university in 1968, holding a degree in Agricultural Economics, Proctor entered the U.S. Army with a second lieutenant's commission in 1969. Quickly promoted to captain, Proctor served as a logistics officer during the Vietnam War from 1971 to 1973.
After additional training, Proctor served four years in supply capacities with the 25th Infantry Division at historic Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, followed by a short deployment in South Korea. He spent the rest of his career in various supply and personnel commands in the U.S.
In 1999, Maj. Gen. Proctor achieved the rank of quartermaster general. He retired in 2004 with numerous commendations, including the Distinguished Service Medal and the Bronze Star.
Also in conjunction with this exhibit is the traveling exhibit "The Road to the Promised Land: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement" on display through June.
For additional, please call (252) 331-4033. The Museum of the Albemarle is the northeast regional history museum of the Division of State History Museums in the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sundays, Mondays and state holidays. Visit online at www.museumofthealbemarle.com.