William Pretty Jr. Scholarship Endowment

Criteria

Graduating senior or a graduate of a high school in Wake, Duplin, Lee, or Chatham counties, attending or with plans to attend Shaw University, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, North Carolina State University, Wake Forest University, or Liberty University, pursuing a degree in the field of business.

About Dr. William “Bill” Pretty Jr.

The family of Dr. William “Bill” Pretty Jr. established the William Pretty Jr. Scholarship Endowment in memory of their beloved husband and father after he passed away on September 28, 2003, at the age of 59. Through this fund, his family wants to continue Pretty’s commitment to assist and inspire youth.

Dr. Pretty believed that with determination, perseverance, and a strong belief in God, anything was possible. He graduated from Shaw University and began his career in the federal government helping disadvantaged youth. After ten years, and with knowledge gained from helping in his father’s restaurant, Pretty became the first African American McDonald’s operator in North Carolina. Along with his wife Mildred, he operated three McDonald’s locations for 27 years in Sanford, NC.

Pretty had a special rapport with young people and always went out of his way to nurture them. His motto was, “the work experience, no matter how short, is very valuable.” To support his motto, even when overstaffed, he always hired young people at his McDonald’s.

With Mildred, Bill served his community in multiple ways. He was a trustee of Shaw University and First Calvary Baptist Church in Sanford and served on many other boards and committees. Mildred was a board member of the Ronald McDonald House in Durham.

His family created the William Pretty Jr. Scholarship Endowment at NCCF after the Black McDonald’s Operators Association approached them about the idea.

Dr. Pretty was a true humanitarian. His love for people and his outreaching personality created valuable and long-lasting relationships. The Pretty family is proud to support students like him.