George Henry Black was born in Randolph County in 1877. He came to Winston-Salem with his family about 1888, and found work making bricks in the town brickyard.
His father died soon after they came to town, and George established his own brickyard and made bricks that he sold to be used in homes, banks, factories and many other buildings. He made bricks for buildings at Colonial Williamsburg in 1930.
President Nixon recruited Black to travel to Guyana in 1971 to teach the people there to make bricks by hand. He was recognized by the president for his efforts in successfully teaching his skills.
Black was also honored when a statue of him was constructed and installed at the Forsyth County Government Center.
Black died in 1980 at the age of 103.
Photo courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.
