Wingate, N.C.----Kids dream big…imagining careers as astronauts, fire fighters and policemen. The epiphany for former Town of Wingate Police Chief Barry Glass came later, during his freshman year at Western Carolina University.
 
"I had no family in law enforcement," Glass says. "During my freshman year at WCU, I was undecided on my major. I took a Law 101-type class…and I really enjoyed the experience. I decided on a major in Criminal Justice…I had pretty lofty ambitions of a job in the FBI or a similar organization."
 
Glass had a security internship at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, thanks to his connections at Western Carolina (class of '96). "I knew I wanted to do street-level police work," Glass says. He continued working at Tyson Foods (in Monroe) while he started his Basic Law Enforcement training at Stanly Community College. Glass graduated from Stanly CC in November of 1996.
 
The Town of Wingate had an opening for a (unpaid) reserve officer in June of 1997. On August 5, 1997, Glass was sworn in as a full-time law enforcement officer for the Town of Wingate. He spent 16 years with the Town of Wingate, including 10 years as Police Chief (2003-13).
 
Glass looks back on his career with great fondness. When asked about an accomplishment that brings him pride, he mentions his work with the Highland Park community. "I worked my entire career to make the Highland Park neighborhood a livable community for the good people of Wingate," Glass says. "When we first started, Highland Park had a pretty high crime volume per capita. There was an open-air drug market, which was obviously a big problem."
 
"We thought we were fairly successful in this endeavor," Glass says. "We couldn't have made this happen without cooperation from all law enforcement entities in our county."
 
Glass has seen many changes, including the movement of the police office from a brick house beside the Cash Points (on Highway 74) to a free-standing building closer to the Wingate University entrance. "The movement of the police department offices helped us in every aspect of our law enforcement duties," Glass says.
 
As he reflects on his tenure, Glass hopes the townspeople remember his time in a positive light. "I made a solid attempt at making the Wingate Police Department a professional police organization regardless of the number of people on our work roster," Glass says. "The fact we have 6-9 professionals on our roster…is not a road block or a reason why we cannot be professional."
 
Glass had big dreams for his department. "I wanted the Wingate Police Department to be more than a training ground for other departments," Glass says. "I wanted us to provide a great work environment and competitive salaries. I wanted to stay here…thankfully, a few others bought into this as well. We worked hard to provide a professional organization…where people would want to stay."
 
"Retired Wingate Police Chief Barry Glass has the ability to quickly determine the response necessary to safely and successfully resolve unstable situations," Wingate mayor Bill Braswell says. "Chief Glass trained his staff in situation management such that the Town of Wingate and the surrounding community enjoyed a safe, stable quality of life. The Town of Wingate is indebted to Chief Glass for his service."
 
Glass is quick to recognize people who helped him along the way. "Chief Deputy Ben Bailey with the Union County Sheriff's Office…was in a similar place to me," Glass says. "He wanted to be a policy maker, a trend-setter. Ben uses his brain to do police work. I always looked up to him."
 
"I owe so much to my folks…Charles and Denise Glass…they always stood by me," Glass says. "They encouraged me every step of the way. James Hyatt was my right-hand man from 1998 until 2013. He helped me so much. I could never thank him enough. I am glad I had the chance to hire (as a patrol officer) and work with (current police chief) Donnie Gay. He is very capable…an honorable man. Wingate is in good hands."
 
Glass has moved to a different chapter in his life, working with his family and extended family at Unicon. "We are involved in every aspect of the poultry industry…trucking, live birds and everything connected," Glass says. "We have a fairly large organization…with a great chance to grow the company."
 
"It was time for me to make a move," Glass says. "I think it is important for people to know…this was a business decision for me…and a very difficult decision."
 
A lifelong Wingate resident, Glass is not ashamed to say how much he admires his hometown. "I love Wingate," Glass says. "I took things personal…I wanted to protect our citizens from the criminal element. I had a more personal motivation to make a difference…the size of our community made this achievable."
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Wingate University, ranked as the 8th "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,000 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration, and doctorates in pharmacy, physical therapy and education.
 
With a 14 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity. 
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past eight years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000's with 67 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate's 67 Academic All-America® honorees are number one during this millennium. Wingate's 76 lifetime Academic All-America® picks are tops among all SAC schools. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Wingate University Athletics will honor Barry Glass during its Patriots' Day celebration Saturday, Sept. 20. Wingate's 14th annual Patriots' Day celebration is held in conjunction with the school's football game versus Lenoir-Rhyne University Saturday, Sept. 20 at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field. Game time is 1:30 p.m. Glass will be recognized at halftime Saturday.