Pictured: John and Leigh McNairy

Leigh and John McNairy have always been champions of education and have supported Lenoir Community College since its early beginning. Most recently, the McNairys have donated $1 million to the LCC Foundation in support of students’ education for generations to come. 

In honor of the McNairy family’s dedication to education, economic development, and philantrophy, the College Board of Trustees approved the renaming of the Learning Resources Center as the Leigh and John McNairy Library.

“The McNairys are long-time supporters of LCC, its programs and services, and most importantly, our students through generous donations to the LCC Foundation Scholarship Program,” LCC President Dr. Rusty Hunt said. “Through existing endowments to support students, the McNairy family is making a college education affordable to support the community that means so much to them and their family,” Hunt said.

Hunt said their contributions throughout the years have not only helped hundreds of students receive an education, but they have also assisted with transportation needs through the College’s Cars for College program.

The Cars for College program gives students an opportunity to attend college and work and improve his or her economic mobility. Its mission is to help low-income working students become more self-sufficient by assisting them with their vehicle transportation needs. The goal is to assure students have access to a safe, legal, affordable, and dependable vehicle to get to college. 

LCC Foundation Executive Director Jeanne Kennedy said it is only fitting that the library be renamed in the family’s honor as they have continuously supported students in their pursuit of knowledge. “We are appreciative of the McNairy family and their dedication to education. Their legacy dates back to the 1980s when Leigh McNairy presented a donation of $50,000 on behalf of Harvey Enterprises to honor employees with 20 or more years of service with the company. At that time, the donation was the single largest ever made to the Foundation. The McNairys are part of our history and a part of our future.”

The McNairys have continued to support the C. Felix Harvey, Sr. Scholarship endowment that supports 10 annual scholarships for students. The scholarship was established in 1986. Mr. Harvey’s daughters, Leigh McNairy and Sunny Burrows, have continued the tradition of honoring the company’s 20-year employees. 

Harvey Enterprises & Affiliates, currently under John McNairy’s leadership, is a privately held, family-owned conglomerate with interests in farming and agricultural production supplies, real estate, transportation, propane gasoline and financial institutions.  Harvey Enterprises & Affiliates is the oldest continuously family-owned private company still in existence in North Carolina.