William Gaston Pearson

Pearson became the first principal of the newly built Hillside Park High School on Umstead Street in 1922.

Pearson was a strict disciplinarian who improved the quality of education at Hillside by demanding dedication and excellence from teachers and students.

He demanded course outline from each teacher at the beginning of each semester with progress reports at regular intervals during the academic year.

At graduation time each year, Pearson traveled to Southern and Eastern Colleges to try to recruit the best teachers possible.

He was a trustee of Kittrell College, St. Joseph's A.M.E. Church, the National Religious Training School, NCCU and Wilberforce University.