The Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice is located outside the Kenan Football Center.
This larger-than-life statue honors Charlie “Choo Choo” Justice, a beloved football player who was twice a runner-up for the Heisman Trophy and a standout running back for the University in the late 1940s. Justice, who remained a goodwill ambassador for the University until his death in 2003, is depicted in an “everyman pose,” walking with his helmet in hand, rather than in the typical exaggerated action pose of athletic statues. This choice by Asheboro, North Carolina, artist Johnpaul Harris allows for a lifelike depiction of Justice’s face, highlighting his humanity and regularity. Created in 2003, the privately funded statue stands 8' 6" tall and weighs 950 pounds, located at the entrance of the Frank H. Kenan Football Center. Harris is also known for other notable works, such as "Mildred the Bear" at Grandfather Mountain and the White Rhino statue at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro.
Created by Johnpaul Harris (2004).