The Historical Society of Topsail Island has invited Kenneth Chestnut to speak about “Ocean City Community Beach, NC Past and Present” at its next Luncheon and Lecture program.
Scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at the assembly building in Topsail Beach, tickets for the luncheon and lecture are $17. There is no charge to attend the lecture only. Register online by Sunday to reserve a spot.
Supporter Spotlight
Son of Ocean City founder, the late Wade Chestnut, Kenneth Chestnut is the current treasurer of the Ocean City Beach Citizens Council, and is to discuss the development of the Ocean City community on Topsail Island and the Ocean City Jazz Festival planned for this summer.
“Ocean City was founded in 1949 as a family oriented beach for African Americans who at the time did not have the opportunity to purchase property anywhere else on the Atlantic Coast,” according to the website. “The community not only still exists, but is thriving today. It has withstood the challenges of hurricanes, the economy, and beach erosion. Many of the property owners are third generation in addition to a large number of new property owners and homeowners.”
Chestnut is the retired president and CEO of IBG Construction Services LLC, a company he founded in Atlanta in 1998.
A Vietnam War veteran, he graduated from Williston Senior High School in Wilmington, and majored in civil engineering at Duke University. While in Atlanta, Chestnut served on various nonprofit boards and holds the title of trustee emeritus at Oglethorpe University.
He returned to Wilmington after retiring and is active both in his church and the community. He fills his days mentoring at Williston Middle School, serving as a Wilmington Housing Authority commissioner, is on the board of Cape Fear Community Land Trust, and is vice president of the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s board of directors. The Coastal Federation publishes Coastal Review.
Supporter Spotlight
The Historical Society of Topsail Island offers the monthly luncheons September through May and features speakers that promote the organization’s mission of education.
