Biography
Glenwood Earl Burden, Sr.
(1946-2009)

 

Glenwood was the first African American student to attend Goldsboro High School. While he was one out of five African American students originally selected to attend, Glenwood was the only student to actually enroll at Goldsboro High. Outside of the school, the first day of classes was very chaotic with police escorts and picketers gathered across the street in Herman Park. Inside the school was a much different atmosphere. Upon arrival, Glenwood was warmly greeted by principal, C. W. Twiford, and the staff made an effort to make sure he felt welcomed as a student at the school.

    

Over the course of his high school career, Glenwood was a member of the Goldsmasquers drama group and one of the top salesmen in the school's annual magazine drive. After graduating from high school, he attended Wayne Community College and St. Augustine College. He later joined the Navy. For 25 years, he spearheaded a TV program called Gospel Perspectives and published the Good News Gazette, a non-denominational monthly newspaper.

Glenwood and his wife, Margaret had two children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.