FAISON — Eugene Pearsall spends a lot of time running a local trucking company, which began more than 25 years ago. But when he’s not, he’s usually focused on helping schools in the Hobbton area.

With close ties to the school system, Pearsall believes he has a duty to give back through his business, Eugene’s Trucking.

“I encourage other parents to get involved,” Pearsall said. “Since we started this, we got other parents who are donating now to the basketball team.”

Pearsall recently purchased uniforms for the Hobbton High School’s basketball programs. Coach Alfonza Hooper showed gratitude for the uniforms for the junior varsity players. Uniforms from the varsity athletes are passed on to younger players. Sometimes, the uniforms may be too big.

“Mr. Pearsall is a great advocate for all of Sampson County Schools,” he said. “He’s been supportive of the Hobbton District.”

He also donated a scoreboard in the gymnasium, which was a major need for the program. The total amount of the uniforms and scoreboard is $7,000.

“Our scoreboard was kind of on its last leg and we needed a scoreboard,” Hooper said. “So he stepped up to the plate.”

To assist students in digital education, Pearsall plans to donate computers in early 2017.

“This is what we need,” Pearsall said about supporters becoming involved.

Last year, Pearsall also provided meals to players and cheerleaders from the high school and Hobbton Middle School.

He serves on the Hobbton Advisory Board and is the former chairman of Sampson County’s Head Start board. He said he truly believes in the motto tied into his philanthropic efforts, “When you feed one, you feed them all.”

He was also involved with the Sampson County Parks and Recreation Department and also sponsored local students for Sampson CenterStage, which was set up to provide opportunities to attend events with national acclaim.

Hooper added that it’s important for community members and parents such as Pearsall to make contributions to groups such as booster clubs.

Rep. Larry Bell, an advocate for education, also stressed the importance of giving back to schools.

“I think it’s important to have people in the community to encourage that kind of thing,” Bell said about community members and parents getting involved. “One of the things that I’ve tried to do since I’ve been in Raleigh is to get them to give some money to promote what I call ‘good neighbor policy.”

Bell said it is a way to recognize people in the community who give a service or assist others. He once chaired a human relations council in Clinton, where members such as ministers, met once a month.

“We tried to do that so if people had a problem in the community, they would know one another,” Bell said. “Those people start dealing with the issues.”

Many years ago, Bell brought up a time when parents had to buy clothing for Union High’s basketball team for a state championship game.

“People have been doing these things for a long time, but they don’t get the credit for what they’re doing,” Bell said.

Pearsall, a Sampson County native, grew up in Faison area and is married to Cherly Pearsall and is a parent of two children attending schools in the county system.

Patty Cherry also appreciates the donations efforts for local education, which began more than a decade ago. Cherry applauded his effort to continue to do so in the future.

“When you find someone that’s eager to give as Cheryl and Eugene, from their company, I think it’s a wonderful thing,” Cherry said.

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https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Pearsall.jpgPearsall
Eugene’s Trucking donates to Hobbton High School

By Chase Jordan

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Reach Chase Jordan at 910-249-4617. Follow us on Twitter at @SampsonInd and like us on Facebook.