My dad graduated from NC State in 1933
and his dad, C.V. York, was in the class of '03.
He didn't graduate. He didn't flunk out, my understanding.
He had opportunities to go to Greenville, North Carolina in the construction business
so he went down to Greenville and started a construction company
with the Cobb brothers, C-o-b-b, and they actually built the first five buildings at East Carolina,
Jarvis Hall and others.
So it was a tradition but mainly growing up I wanted to be in the family business, we've always had a construction company,
and civil engineering is what I wanted to study.
Now in high school I played both football and basketball
and I had some scholarship offers, mostly in football.
So Duke offered me a scholarship to play football.
Because I was able to qualify to get accepted to Duke. [Laughs]
NC State, of course, had requirements as well but of course Duke was looked at as very difficult.
I thought about that. I think I was more flattered than actually considering it.
So the only thing I really considered was NC State.
I always wanted to be in the family business and I always wanted to go to NC State.