Wall of Fame inductions Sunday at Wayne Museum
By Turner Walston
Published in News on November 4, 2005 1:48 PM
The Wall of Fame at the Wayne County Museum will grow when the Wayne County Historical Association honors two inductees this weekend.
Rear Admiral Edward Cobb Outlaw and Oland Franklin Peele will join the 72 individuals previously honored on the Wall of Fame.
The ceremony will take place on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Wayne County Museum at the corner of East Walnut and North William streets.
Born in Greenville in 1914, Outlaw moved to Goldsboro with his family at the age of 10.
Before joining the Navy, Outlaw captained the Goldsboro High School debate team to a state championship. After graduation, he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy. Outlaw's career in the U.S. Navy would span 36 years and three wars.
He would become one of the most decorated Naval officers of World War II. Outlaw received the Navy Cross for his actions as commanding officer of Fighter Squadron 32 on board the USS Langley.
"He shot down six Japanese Zeros in five minutes," said Outlaw's son, Beau Outlaw. "The headline in the newspaper called him 'Ace-a-minute' Outlaw."
Additionally, Outlaw received a Legion of Merit, three Distinguished Flying Crosses and six Air Medals during World War II.
Following the war, Outlaw had various Naval assignments, including commander of the USS Intrepid. In 1962, he attained the rank of Rear Admiral.
Outlaw died in Durham in 1996.
"He would be honored to be honored," Beau Outlaw said of the Wall of Fame ceremony.
Peele was born in 1920 in the Nahunta community. He began raising pigs at the age of 11.
Peele was a pioneer in Wayne County livestock. He built the first central barrowing house in the state, leading to the use of such facilities across Eastern North Carolina.
Peele served for 37 years as the president of the Wayne County Livestock Development Association, and Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair director. He was also the first president of the N.C. Swine Breeders Association.
Peele opened Nahunta Farm Sausage in 1966, and the store has been operated by the family since then.
"I never heard him say it, but I believe he thought that people had an obligation to give back more than what they took from society," Gregory Peele said of his father.
"He was a man that believed in doing things the right way, he was a man of high integrity. He didn't believe in cutting corners."
Peele was a long-time member of Nahunta Friends Meeting and a charter member of the Nahunta Grange. An inductee into the Wayne County Agricultural Hall of Fame, Peele died in Nahunta in 2000.
A committee of Historical Association members chose the inductees from dozens of nominations, said association president Louis Marriner.
"It's a long, drawn-out process, and we don't take it lightly," Marriner said. "It's worth it," he said. "I think it's a neat project for the museum to do."
For more information, call 734-5023.