Friday and Robert W. Scott (1929- )
Management of higher education in North Carolina had become very complicated by 1970, and Governor Robert Scott sought to simplify the system. Following the recommendation of a special commission, the legislature created a Board of Governors in 1971 to manage all sixteen state-supported institutions of higher education. After initial misgivings, Friday supported this idea. The new board asked Friday to head the system, and he agreed in 1972.