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Reverend Walter Banks White, born October 17, 1930, in Rock Hill, South Carolina, is honored for his decades of service as an educator and pastor in the Rock Hill community

Earned degrees magna cum laude from Friendship Junior College (1957), Benedict College (1959), and a master's in education from South Carolina State University (1961); co-authored "We the People," a government textbook used district-wide for seventh graders

Served 13 years as principal of Sunset Park Elementary School, improving test scores, attendance, and parental involvement, and later served as principal of Oakdale Elementary School before retiring from education

Pastored six churches across York and Chester counties over several decades, including 20 years at Flint Hill Baptist Church in Rock Hill

Served on numerous community boards including the Rock Hill School District, York County Planning Commission, Rock Hill YMCA Board of Directors (his family was the first Black family to join), and Catawba Regional Council of Governments