On Sunday afternoon, June 22, a long overdue event will occur. At the Historical Museum of Catawba County on the Square in Newton, a bust of the likeness of an important figure in Catawba County will be unveiled. Phairlever Pearson will be honored for much more than his many years of service to Newton and surrounding community. He will be remembered for his work to make Catawba County a better place.
In 1945, Mr. Pearson took the job as principal of Central High, Newton’s African-American high school. He once noted that he was also a teacher, “bus driver, janitor, guidance counselor,” basically anything the school needed. From his first day in, he worked tirelessly to improve the academics and the environment. He toiled to make sure students were engaged, inspired, even fed when they needed it.
Photo: Phairlever Pearson, a man of vision, integrity, faith and resolve. Image courtesy of the Historical Association of Catawba County.
Perhaps the best example of his efforts to improve Central came when he began to call attention to the condition of the campus. This era was the a time of “separate but equal” between the races and while facilities were separate, the were not equal. Classrooms were heated only by potbellied stove and with two light bulbs per room. The environment was not conducive to learning. Principal Pearson invited the sanitary inspector down to witness just how bad things were and that got the ball rolling on change. “He condemned everything,” Pearson noted, from a playground that was just a “muddy hill,” to the basement cafeteria. Improvements were vital. He just had to convince the school board.
Imploring members of the Newton-Conover School System’s governing body to see the problem for themselves, he petitioned them to visit. The move was risky. He didn’t know how his ‘invitation’ might be interpreted. And while some comments suggested resentment, they came, they saw, they made positive changes.
Throughout his career, he worked to improve the environment he encountered. In his 21 years as principal which included much of the first Civil Rights Era, Principal Pearson strived to be a peacemaker, leading by example. He was a “great humanitarian, ” as his daughter Pauletta Pearson Washington describes him. At his own expense, he drove students to colleges to help them continue their education. He started a myriad of innovative programs designed to elevate the level of education at Central, as well as bringing other gifted educators to teach there, some from Ivy League schools.
Phairlever Pearson was a man of great moral strength. When integration came, though he had worked strenuously for the cause of education, the administration chose to leave him without a job. He accepted the personal loss with grace and dignity.
Two stories about the man demonstrate his character. Once, when walking with Pauletta, a man walked up to her father. Angrily, he “pointed a finger in his face and called him all kinds of names, accusing him of so many things that were not true,” she remembers. “When we came home I asked him, ‘how could you take all of that?’” He looked me straight in my eye and said, ‘because I know who I am’.”
Likewise, Grover Linebarger recalls talking with Mr. Pearson once and getting an invaluable piece of advice. “‘Linebarger,’ he said, ‘you don’t have to ask permission to be great’.”
The dedication event for the unveiling of the bust of Phairlever Pearson will be held at 2pm. Come and hear more stories about a remarkable man. While you are there you will meet the people who’s lives were touched by one of the most important figures in Catawba County history. It should be quite a day!
