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An Edgecombe County native with a distinguished career of leadership in industry and state government, E. Norris Tolson took the helm of the Biotechnology Center July 2, 2007.
Tolson has served on the Biotechnology Center's Board of Directors since 1997, as a member of the Executive Committee since 2001 and as Vice Chair since 2005.
He was one of five co-conveners leading development of the recently completed North Carolina's Strategic Plan for Biofuels Leadership.
Gov. Mike Easley appointed Tolson Secretary of Revenue in January 2001. There he was responsible for administering the state's tax laws and collecting taxes in a fair, impartial and uniform manner. Service to North Carolina.
Tolson held appointments as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Department of Commerce and was charged with reorganizing both departments. Tolson also served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1994 until 1997 and represented parts of Nash, Edgecombe, Pitt and Wilson counties.
Prior to his election to the General Assembly, Tolson worked at E.I. Dupont from 1965 until his retirement in 1993. He worked in various research, marketing and sales assignments in the company's agricultural products and electronics business for 28 years. He was assigned both domestic and international business responsibilities and lived in Europe for several years.
In 1999, Tolson served as chair of the North Carolina Hurricane Floyd Relief Fund to help victims of Hurricane Floyd recover.
Tolson graduated from North Carolina State University with a bachelor's degree in crop science and agribusiness in 1962. He also served in the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps from 1963 to 1965. He is a certified lay speaker in the United Methodist Church and a member of the Lions Club and the American Legion. In addition to the Biotechnology Center board, he serves on the Board of Visitors at North Carolina State University and the Alumni Association Board.
He also serves on the NCSU College of Education and Psychology Foundation and is a member of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Alumni Society. Prior to his Department of Revenue service, he was a member of the North Carolina Community College Board. Tolson and his wife, Betsy, have three children and five grandchildren. | 