The Distinguished Graduate Award is given to a graduate of the Tarboro Colored High School or the W. A. Pattillo High School, living or deceased, who has or had good standing as a citizen in the governmental jurisdiction where she or he resides (or resided) and at the ascending governmental levels.

The awardee must have demonstrated achievements in the years since graduating from high school to include their achievements and ongoing contributions to the local state and national or international communities.

Herbert A. Exum, Ph.D., Class of '67, 2015 Induction

Julia H. Hammonds, TCHS Class of '36, 2016 Induction

Delores Williams Murphy, Class of '57, 2016 Induction

Sergeant Major Robert E. Smith, Retired, USMC (RET), Class of '51, 2016 Induction

Milton Eugene Tucker, Class of '55, 2016 Induction

Reverend George T. Cromwell, Sr., Class of '61, 2017 Induction

Staff Sergeant Willie Alphonso Barnes, Jr., (Retired) USA, Class of '51, 2017 Induction

Dr. Leroy E. Bynum, Jr., Class of '72, 2018 Induction

Tuskegee Airman, Captain Willie Howell Fuller, TCHS, Class of '37, 2018 Induction

Milton "Pete" Taylor, Class of '54, 2018 Induction

Gordon Fletcher Bullock, Class of '51, 2019 Induction

Attorney Alfred Mathewson, Class of '71, 2020 Induction

Dr. Fred S. Wood, Jr., Class of '62, 2020 Induction

CW4 (RET) Willie Clayton Giles, USN, Class of '65, 2022 Induction