Avery C. Upchurch
Encyclopedia
Avery C. Upchurch was Mayor
of Raleigh, North Carolina
from 1983 to 1993. His term in office was the longest of any mayor of Raleigh in the 20th century and corresponded to a period of rapid growth of the city.
Upchurch was born in Wake County, North Carolina
and moved to Raleigh as a teenager. He operated two filling station
s in the city before entering politics. Having served on the Planning Commission and on City Council prior to election as Mayor, his administration focused on expansion of infrastructure such as:
He was noted for his unpretentious style and his consensus approach to problem solving.
Upchurch elected not to run for a sixth term. Within months of retiring from office, he contracted cancer
and died. The headquarters of Raleigh city government was subsequently renamed the Avery C. Upchurch Government Complex in his honor.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
from 1983 to 1993. His term in office was the longest of any mayor of Raleigh in the 20th century and corresponded to a period of rapid growth of the city.
Upchurch was born in Wake County, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and moved to Raleigh as a teenager. He operated two filling station
Filling station
A filling station, also known as a fueling station, garage, gasbar , gas station , petrol bunk , petrol pump , petrol garage, petrol kiosk , petrol station "'servo"' in Australia or service station, is a facility which sells fuel and lubricants...
s in the city before entering politics. Having served on the Planning Commission and on City Council prior to election as Mayor, his administration focused on expansion of infrastructure such as:
- streets,
- water supply and sewage treatment,
- curbside recycling,
- downtown parking,
- the Alltel Pavilion at Walnut Creek,
- renovation of Raleigh Memorial Auditorium (now incorporated in the Progress Energy Center for the Performing ArtsProgress Energy Center for the Performing ArtsThe Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts is the main venue for the performing arts in Raleigh, North Carolina.The naming rights to the center currently are held by Progress Energy, which purchased them from the city in 2005 for a 20-year term at the cost of $7.5 million...
), - planning for the expansion of the Raleigh Convention and Conference Center, and
- initial study of a new sports arena later built as the RBC Center.
He was noted for his unpretentious style and his consensus approach to problem solving.
Upchurch elected not to run for a sixth term. Within months of retiring from office, he contracted cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
and died. The headquarters of Raleigh city government was subsequently renamed the Avery C. Upchurch Government Complex in his honor.