Ayantee 1963 ROTC Portrait of Cadet Capt. Joseph McNeil
Joseph Alfred McNeil was born in Wilmington, North Carolina on March 25, 1942. He graduated from Williston Senior High School and entered A&T College having received an A&T College Alumni Association Scholarship. Joe and his roommate, Ezell Blair, Jr., one of the A&T Four, lived in Scott Hall their freshman year. McNeil says of the sit–ins… “they were just doing what was right”
In 1963, Dr. McNeil earned a Bachelor of Science in engineering physics from A&T and was commissioned a second lieutenant through the Air Force ROTC program on June 1, 1963. He retired from the Air Force Reserves in 2000 as a Major General having being promoted to the rank on February 29, 1996. After a military career of over thirty seven years, Major General McNeil received the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal upon retirement.
As a civilian, Dr. McNeil developed a management background in corporate finance, investment banking and public services.
Dr. McNeil was awarded the honorary Doctor of Philosophy in humanities from North Carolina A&T State University on May 5, 1991 and the honorary Doctor of Laws from St. John’s University in Jamaica, New York in 1998.
Dr. McNeil passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 4, 2025 at the age of 83.