A happy birthday for a former governor

For three decades, James Holshouser has sat on the UNC system's Board of Governors, listening as others spoke.

His silence is so customary, in fact, that at the rare moment when the former governor does speak on an issue, the room quickly falls silent.

Hannah Gage, the board's current chair, likens Holshouser to the character in the old E.F. Hutton commercials. When he talks, people listen.

"He never preaches, never lectures, and he always illuminates our path," Gage said Friday. "He's the rare individual who only talks when he has something important to say."

Holshouser was the center of a quick celebration Friday by the UNC system board, feted both for his 75th birthday the day before and to honor his 30 years of board service. He was presented with a cake with 30 candles, and his fellow board members serenaded him with a warbly version of "Happy Birthday" that made clear that none should quit their day jobs.

Holshouser became governor in 1973, narrowly defeating Hargrove "Skipper" Bowles. These days, Holshouser sits on the board whose top staff member is UNC system President Erskine Bowles, the son of the man he defeated in that gubernatorial race.

Holshouser served one term as governor and not long after became a member of the UNC board, which sets policy for all public universities.

"If you keep your mouth shut most of the time, people will think you're smarter than you are," he quipped. "I throw that out as a piece of advice for some members of this board."