Most N.C. State students could probably count on one hand the number of alumni in their family, but brothers Samuel and Hillman Homewood would have to hold up both hands each.
The family tree of Samuel Sholes Homewood III and Hillman “Hill” Collins Homewood boasts 19 alumni, spanning four generations, which includes their great-grandfather, grandfather and father, along with a host of various aunts, uncles and cousins. “I can’t even name them all,” Sholes said jokingly. The legacy began with their great-grandfather Solomon Linn Homewood, who received a degree in agriculture in 1922 and a master’s in animal husbandry in 1924. He was captain of the football team in 1917 and the captain of the track team in 1919. “Once he got there he set the basis for what he wanted from the rest of the family,” said Sholes, a junior in sports management. “Every direct Homewood since him has gone to N.C. State following in his footsteps.” NCSU has also been home to their grandfather, Samuel Homewood, who majored in textiles in 1950 and their father, Samuel Homewood Jr., who majored in U.S. history in 1977. The brothers said they have “definitely” felt pressure to attend the university. “N.C. State’s been in our blood since we were born. Our dad raised us as N.C. State sports fans, and my grandfather raised us as State sports fans,” Sholes said. “As soon as we got here we were comfortable with it, we knew this is where we wanted to be. It’s always been a lifelong goal for me to come to State.” Both Sholes and Hill started off at other schools before attending NCSU. Sholes attended Auburn during his freshman year and Hill, a sophomore in parks, recreation and tourism, attended Barton College in Wilson during his freshman year. Hill got his grades up at Barton with the continuing hope of making it to NCSU. He jokes that if he still didn’t make it, he “probably would’ve gone to Wake Tech.” After transferring to the University, Hill was honored at the Legacy Luncheon on August 19 for having the most alumni in his family. The Alumni Association invites incoming students, who have an alumnus parent or grandparent, to lunch and to have a pin put on them by a family member. “We had a lot of speakers,” Hill said. “The Chancellor spoke; he told us to raise our hands to how many family members we had come to State and I kept raising my hand until the highest was the person with 11. And then I went up there and spoke about it.” Sholes attended the luncheon and said his grandfather, Samuel Homewood, was proud to place the pin on Hill. He said he knew then how much it meant to his entire family. Sholes said he always went to State games. He and his family would “pile into a van” and come to watch every game. “It’s not just sports, but that’s the way our passion got started. We’d always have a great time,” Sholes said. “It’s a great family time and I’ve never been ashamed of hanging out with my family members. I love that they mean a lot to me because without family who else do you have?” Hill remembers his exact feelings when he first learned that he would come to NCSU. “I looked in the mail, and I started shaking because it was a big envelope. I was just very proud of myself,” Hill said. Shole said his mom was “so proud” she called him “bawling on the phone.” The brothers agree that going to school together has brought them closer. “Hill would do anything for me, and likewise I’d do anything for him,” Sholes said. Sholes hopes to be the 20th Homewood to graduate from the University, and Hill hopes to be the 21st. They said they have an earnest desire to keep the tradition alive within the family. “I want my family line to come to N.C. State and to keep on coming as long as they possibly can,” Hill said.
“It’s in my blood,” Sholes said. “And I’m going to hopefully instill it in their blood.” Tradition is of the utmost importance to the Homewoods, according to Hill and Sholes. They maintain a tightly-knit unit who continually offer each other advice and support. “I am definitely proud of my heritage here at N.C. State,” Sholes said. “There’s no doubt about it. I’ve always wanted to live in my father’s shoes and so far I’ve been able to do that; and just hearing how proud he was of me and Hill was worth every bit of studying.”