The legislature passed a resolution Tuesday that paid tribute to the late Dallas Herring, known as "the father of community colleges" in North Carolina.

Rep. Russell Tucker shared his memories of Herring and pointed out that Herring, in addition to his role in the creation of the Community College System, also served as the chairman of the State Board of Education during the tumultuous time of desegregation.

"He was the right man for the job," Tucker said. "He was a man of education, and everyone in this chamber has benefitted from the contributions of Dallas Herring."

Herring’s two brothers and their wives observed from the House gallery.

In the Senate, Sen. Charles Albertson called Herring “One of the greatest men I’ve ever known. He wasn’t focused on himself, but on his fellow man.”

Herring died in January at age 90. A former mayor of Rose Hill, he had an extensive home library and a passion for education. He led the State Board of Education from 1957 to 1977. In the late 1950s, he pushed a plan for industrial education centers and then the creation in 1963 of the state's community college system, which now enrolls more than 800,000 students at 58 campuses.