Abstract:
Citizens of Rocky Mount elected Fred Turnage mayor in 1973, and he served the city for the following thirty-four years. He dealt with some contentious issues during his tenure, including Sunday \"blue\" laws; liquor by the drink; and the merger of the city and county school systems. In 1977-78, he served as president of the North Carolina League of Municipalities. He died on July 31, 2011 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.