SILER CITY - A former Siler City businessman has been honored by his daughter with the gift of a large art display cabinet at Central Carolina Community College's Siler City Center.

William "Bill" L. Wall was born in Siler City in 1917 and passed away in 1999. Recently, his daughter, Patty Poe, also of Siler City, donated an almost-seven foot tall glass and cherry wood display cabinet to the Siler City Center in memory of her father.

Wall graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1941 and then served in World War II. He owned Home Builders Supply Co. in Siler City for 30 years. Wall had a well-equipped wood shop in his basement and woodworking was a hobby and a passion, Poe said.

"My dad loved working with wood, and when I saw the woodworking program at the Siler City Center's open house, I knew what I wanted to do," Poe said. "I think he'd be pleased to offer a means of showcasing CCCC students' products."

The case, which is located just outside the wood shop, will display woodcrafts and turnings, pottery, and metal art made by students in the college's sculpture and Continuing Education art classes. Several pieces by Wall will also be on display.

"Patty Poe has and continues to be a great supporter of education in Siler City," said Sara Lambert, the college's adult education coordinator in Chatham County and site manager for the Center. "I am very thankful that she has chosen a way to honor her father that will give our students a beautiful way to display their works of art."

Poe said she first became aware of the college when she was an admissions officer at UNC-Greensboro. She would spend time with prospective CCCC transfer students while recruiting for the university.

"I realized what an asset the community college system is to the young people of our state and how fortunate we are to have it," she said. "After my dad died, I was trying to think of some way to honor his memory and support the community college at the same time and decided to do this."

The modern design of the cabinet fits well with the architecture of the Siler City Center, which opened in 2010. Located in the Central Carolina Business Park and designed by Hobbs Architects, of Pittsboro, the Center received a Gold Level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. The Center offers instruction in adult literacy, job skills, arts, computer technology, and curriculum classes.

The display cabinet was donated through the CCCC Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization affiliated with, but independent of, the college. It receives donations of money and equipment on behalf of CCCC and uses them to promote the educational mission of the college. For more information about the Foundation, call (919) 718-7231.