Pat Harrell has had a distinguished career in education, primarily as an outstanding administrator in a number of different school systems. A 1961 graduate of East Carolina University, Harrell was a teacher and coach at the high school level before moving into administration. Among his tenures as a superintendent were from 1976-88 as head of the Perquimans County Schools and from 1988-93 in Dare County.  He also assisted several systems as an interim superintendent, including Lee, Scotland and Nash-Rocky Mount. Harrell served a term on the Board of Directors of the NCHSAA and served two terms as president, from 1988-90. He has received a number of honors from the NCHSAA for his involvement in athletics on a statewide level, and he also has been vitally involved in church and civic affairs. He received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award for service to the state from Governor James B. Hunt.