Chapter History

The North Carolina Chapter of APCO was established on September 18, 1961, by founding members Sanford Smith of the City of Greensboro, and Buck Sloop and Robert Franklin of the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

The chapter held its inaugural meeting on November 14, 1961, in Greensboro, N.C., with 27 members in attendance. National APCO President Joe Marshall was present for this milestone event. The Chapter Charter was officially signed on August 11, 1962.

For many years, the original charter was believed to be lost until it resurfaced in 2014. It is now preserved by the Historical Committee and proudly displayed each year at the Annual Conference.

All three founding members—Mr. Smith, Mr. Sloop, and Mr. Franklin—went on to serve as Chapter Presidents. Mr. Franklin also held the position of Chapter Secretary/Treasurer.

From its beginning, the North Carolina Chapter took an active role in advocating for regulatory improvements, radio operating standards, and frequency coordination.

Within five years, the chapter had doubled its membership, attracted agencies from across the state, and established a presence at both the Regional and National levels. It also partnered with chapters in Virginia, South Carolina, and Maryland to exchange ideas and foster collaboration.

National APCO Conferences were regularly attended by dedicated “Tarheel” members. In 1978, Greensboro hosted an East Coast Regional Conference. Around this time, then-Chapter President J. Don Shields (1973–1974) launched a Standardized Telecommunicator Training Program.

Fifteen years after the chapter’s founding, 70 members supported Sanford Smith in his successful campaign for National APCO 2nd Vice President. He served as National President from 1979 to 1980.

Also in 1978, the chapter introduced a trial East/West Regional Meeting format to stimulate membership growth and participation.

In 1981, with 108 members, the chapter backed Charles “Chuck” English in his successful bid for National APCO 2nd Vice President. He later served as National President from 1984 to 1985.

In 1982, chapter efforts shifted toward dispatcher training, culminating in specialized workshops at the East Coast Regional Conference in Raleigh.

The North Carolina Chapter went on to host additional East Coast Regional Conferences, including those held in Greensboro (2005 and 2008) and Concord (2010).

In 1996, the chapter began collaborative meetings and conferences with the North Carolina chapter of NENA.

Over time, records of past Chapter Presidents were lost or never properly maintained. In response, the Historical Committee launched an extensive research effort—consulting former members, archived APCO Bulletins, and National APCO—to compile an accurate list of past presidents. This list, now displayed on a perpetual plaque, was unveiled at the 2012 Fall Conference in celebration of the chapter’s 50th anniversary. It is also available on the chapter’s website.

To date, four North Carolinians have served as National APCO President. In addition to Sanford Smith and Charles English, the first was C.M. Smith, a radio engineer with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. He served on the National APCO board for over 20 years prior to the formation of the North Carolina Chapter and was affiliated with the Atlantic Chapter. Mr. Smith held the role of National President briefly in 1941 before resigning to pursue a career in the private radio broadcast sector. The most recent North Carolinian to serve in the role was Frank Huggins, who led the national organization from 1993 to 1994. Mr. Huggins had previously served as N.C. Chapter President from 1975 to 1976.

For more information, contact Chapter Historian Grayson Gusa.