Roland P. (Sandy) McClamroch, of Chapel Hill, died suddenly March 30 at his residence in the Carol Woods Retirement Community. He was 90 years old.

Born July 6, 1925, to Clara Lyon and Roland P. McClamroch. He lived most of his life in Chapel Hill, where he became an important fixture in the community’s life. He was the founder of WCHL radio in 1953, served two terms as town alderman, and served as town mayor from 1961-1968.

He served in the US Army in Europe during World War II including serving in the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944 and early 1945. After the war he returned home and completed a business degree at the University of North Carolina. He was a member of American Legion Post No. 6, Chapel Hill, for 17 years.

In 1979 McClamroch was instrumental in founding Carol Woods Retirement Community. He also had active roles in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Jaycees and Chapel Hill-Carrboro Junior Chamber of Commerce, and served as president of the Chamber of Commerce, which inducted him in 2013 to its Business Hall of Fame. In 2009 he was recognized as a Town Treasure by the Chapel Hill Historical Society.

Throughout his public and private life, McClamroch was a person of integrity, honesty and humility, who held the common good of the community as a high value. During his mayoral tenure in the era of advancing civil rights, he promoted conversation and engaging different points of view and earned a reputation as a peacemaker.

Learn more about Sandy’s contribution to Chapel Hill, including the creation of then AM station WCHL, in an article by Tammy Grubb of Chapel Hill News. Read story