The Fifteen-Year-Old Who Started the Cleveland Star

Clyde Roark Hoey, who grew up in the South Washington Street neighborhood, was the son of Charlotte Roark, daughter of Reese Roark, who once lived in the old McAfee house. Hoey established the Cleveland Star as a weekly newspaper when he was only 15 years old. Before reaching his 21st birthday, he was elected to represent Cleveland County in the North Carolina Legislature.

He later served as Governor of North Carolina and as a United States Senator. Mamie Jones describes him as one of the state’s leading attorneys, frequently called “the silver-tongued orator from North Carolina.” He was also well known as a Methodist churchman and Sabbath School teacher.

Source: Mamie Jones.