Friend of Education

Tom Bradshaw is being honored for decades of leadership and public service for the children of Wake County. Bradshaw, a Broughton High School graduate, began his career on the advertising staff at the News & Observer and later served as Vice President of North Hills, Inc., and President of North Hills Realty. In 1969, Bradshaw entered politics as a Raleigh City Councilor and in 1971 became the youngest Mayor in Raleigh’s history at age 32. He drove major improvements to city infrastructure and services, leading campaigns for almost $60 million in bond issues. In 1977, Bradshaw was appointed Secretary of the NC Department of Transportation by Governor Jim Hunt. Bradshaw’s work in the transportation arena led to a long distinguished financial career traveling between Raleigh and Wall Street as Managing Director and Co-Head of the Transportation Group for Citigroup Global Markets.

Tom Bradshaw has led and served on multiple nonprofit boards including Chair of the Raleigh Chamber and NC Citizens for Business and Industry (now NC Chamber), Vice Chairman of the North Carolina Global TransPark Authority, President of the Triangle United Way, and is a very active member of the Raleigh Kiwanis Club.

He has been a key player in every successful Wake County Public School System bond campaign over the past 50 years. He is deeply committed to the Public School Forum of North Carolina where he has served for more than 30 years, including as Chair, in support of our state’s public schools. Most recently, Tom served as a leader for the transformative Southeast Raleigh Promise effort that included opening a new state-of-the-art school and world-class YMCA facility in Southeast Raleigh.