Code '70 Inducted into National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Oct. 19, 2024) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University alumnus Judge Merl F. Code has been inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame.

Code was honored in the Lifetime Achievement category during the 39^th annual induction ceremony in Atlanta for his distinguished career in law and community service, breaking many barriers and inspiring future generations.

Code graduated cum laude in 1970 with a B.S. in mathematics from The School of Arts and Sciences (now the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) at N.C. A&T, where he was a Presidential Scholar. He also was an exceptional member of the Aggie football team and was named an Associated Press All-American football player, CIAA Player of the Year and NCAA Small College All-American, among other accolades in 1969.

After graduation, Code played for six seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Montreal Alouettes, winning a Grey Cup Championship in his rookie season. He also played for two seasons in the World Football League with the Memphis Southmen and a year with the CFL’s Ottawa Rough Riders.

Code received his Juris Doctor in 1979 from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1979, where he was an Earl Warren Legal Scholar and elected as the first African American president of its student body. He went on to open two successful law offices in Seneca and Greenville, South Carolina. Upon passing the bar exam, he quickly gained a reputation for his dedication to justice and equality.

During his 40-year career, Code has been a prominent lawyer, community leader, philanthropist and business owner. He was an active board member for more than 30 organizations serving South Carolina’s Upstate, including The Palmetto Institute, Minority Economic Development Institute, BB&T Bank of South Carolina, Clemson University Advisory Board and the Greater Greenville (South Carolina) YMCA.

In 1983, Code made history as the first African American to be appointed as a municipal court judge in Greenville. He was also the first African American to serve as chairman of the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Governors for the University Center of Greenville and the Greenville County United Way Board of Directors.

Code has received The Order of the Palmetto – South Carolina’s highest civilian honor – as well as the Compleat Lawyer Award from the S.C. Bar Association, the Community Foundation of Greenville’s Visionary Leadership Award and the Greenville Chamber of Commerce Chairman Award. He also was inducted into the N.C. A&T State University Sports Hall of Fame and the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame. He was named among the “50 Most Influential People of 2018” by Greenville Business Magazine and retired from practicing law in 2019. He remains active in the Greenville community, where he resides with his wife, Denise Galloway Code ‘73.

The National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame recognizes alumni from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) who have made significant contributions to their respective fields, promoting the viability of HBCUs and spotlighting the achievements of their alumni. Its Lifetime Achievement Award honors those whose careers have not only advanced their industries but also uplifted communities and inspired future generations of leaders. For more information, visit https://nbcahof.org/.