Dr. Andrew A. Best, 89, passed away on Wednesday morning, December 7, 2005 at the Pitt County Memorial Hospital. A native of Kinston, North Carolina, Dr. Best played a key role in the establishment of the East Carolina University medical school, as well as serving as an advocate for African American students and faculty at the university. His passing will certainly leave a huge void with regard to advocacy and social justice.
Dr. Best earned his medical degree from the Meharry Medical College of Nashville, Tennessee in 1951. He established his medical practice in Greenville, North Carolina in 1954. Dr. Best served the needs of many citizens in Pitt County through his medical practice. Additionally, Dr. Best served the humanitarian needs of the area encouraging African American students to enroll at ECU and by bringing highly qualified African American faculty and staff to the University. In recognition of his outstanding service to the county and the state, Dr. Best was awarded many honors. One such honor was his appointment to the University of North Carolina Board of Governors in 1971. Dr. Leo Jenkins served as chancellor of ECU during that time and a partnership was formed between Drs. Best, Jenkins and others to lobby the state legislature to create a medical school at ECU. After much debate, the legislature passed the bill that would create the bill to establish the ECU Medical School. Today, hundreds of students and thousands of patients benefit from the educational and medical services offered by the medical school.
Another of the honors bestowed upon Dr. Best was the establishment of the Best-Irons Humanitarian Award. The annual banquet, sponsored by the Greenville Human Relations Council, recognizes the efforts of Dr. Best and Dr. Malene G. Irons who helped desegregate Pitt County Memorial Hospital in the 1960’s.
The Cultural Center at ECU also benefited from the services of Dr. Best. He is credited with bringing Ledonia Wright to ECU as a member of the faculty in the Allied Health division. Ms. Wright served three years at ECU and was a strong proponent for education and equality. Upon her passing, the University recognized her contributions by naming the Cultural Center after her. Dr. Best and Ms. Wright were close colleagues who shared a common vision for the success of black students at the University.
Dr. Best was a member of numerous organizations, to include Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the Pitt County Interracial Committee, the local N.A.A.C.P., and the National Medical Association.
1916 - 2005
