1970 Winningham
Edyth Farnham Winningham was born January 26 1900 in Arthur, N.D to George B. and Edith Burgum Farnham. She received a bachelor's degree in modern languages from the University of North Dakota and her master's in political science from UNC-Chapel Hill, reportedly the first woman in the state to complete the degree.
Winningham was UNC Charlotte’s political science professor when she joined the staff in 1947. She was the second full time faculty member hired at a , the school was at that time still an extension of UNC-Chapel Hill. She taught at UNCC until her 1967 retirement. After retirement she continued to lectiure on international politics to area civic and book clubs. She returned to the class room at the age of 84 to fill in for a professor on leave.
She is most remembered at UNCC for the establishment of the University Forum, an annual event that has attracted speakers such as Henry Kissinger, Buckminster Fuller and Ben Chavis. This Forum led to the creation of the Institute of Urban Studies and Community Services at UNCC.
In 1970, she was named WBT Radio's Woman of the Year for her work in developing stronger ties between UNCC and the community. She was nominated by the League of Women Voters. She was the wife of James Lyndon Winningham and they had one daughter, Nancy Page.