Six honored as honorary alums

The East Carolina University Alumni Association on Saturday (March 8) recognized six friends of the university by designating them honorary alumni.
The honorees were Leo, Morris and Sammy Brody of Kinston and Greenville, retailers and philanthropists; Peggy Smith Corbitt of Greenville, a civic leader; Ashley Futrell Sr. of Washington, a newspaper publisher; and Willie Martin of Wilmington, Del., a Du Pont executive.

Frank Grayiel III, vice president of the ECU Alumni Association, said the awards recognize individuals “who have chosen to associate themselves with East Carolina University, although they did not attend here as students. Being afforded the status of an honorary alumnus or alumna honors the recipient for his or her good works in behalf of ECU, and, in effect, brings them officially into the ECU family.”

The Brody brothers-Sammy was honored posthumously-have been major supporters of the ECU School of Medicine through the Brody Medical Foundation.

Corbitt, a member of the ECU Board of Visitors and Chancellor’s Society, also has served as president of the Greenville Service League, president of the Greenville Museum of Art and trustee of the North Carolina Museum of Art.

Futrell, editor and publisher emeritus of the Washington Daily News, is a former state senator and a former member of the ECU Board of Trustees where he served with three chancellors of the university.

Martin, now director of global operations for Du Pont Dacron, is a former plant manager of the Du Pont facility in Kinston, and a noted supporter of the ECU School of Education.