By Elizabeth Cook

elizabeth.cook@salisburypost.com

Today’s contributions to the Impact Summer Reading fund include a check from Phil Kirk, former chairman of the State Board of Education.

Which reminds us of a story about a pig — two pigs, actually.

Kirk, a Rowan County native and former Salisbury teacher, has always been a big advocate of encouraging children to read. Sometime during his tenure on the State Board of Education, he promised students at Stony Point Elementary School in Alexander County that he’d kiss a pig if they read over 7,500 books that year.

As Post columnist Rose Post reported in 2003, the students reached the goal, of course.

Before Kirk could deliver on his promise, he had to call on the expertise of another Rowan County native who rose to high places in Raleigh — Jim Graham, then commissioner of agriculture.

Kirk had to ask, how do you kiss a pig?

Very carefully, as it turns out — between the snout and the eyes, came the response. Not on the snout.

So that’s what Kirk did, and during a later visit to White Oak Elementary School in Carteret County, he was challenged to make the same promise— kiss a pig if students met their reading goal, which was 5,000, since it was a smaller school.

The students reached their goal, of course.

The day of reckoning came, and Kirk was presented with a pet pig named Wilma to smooch.

Here’s the rest of the story, in Kirk’s words:

“Since the pig was thought to be scared of noise and crowds, thank goodness the agenda was changed and the kissing was moved ahead of many awards which were given out for reading greatness.

“I was first and kissed the pig on the side. The local superintendent and school board member were a little braver. They kissed the pig on the forehead.

“When the principal stepped up to kiss the pig, the students shouted in unison, ‘In the mouth! In the mouth!’ She obliged almost, and the pig kissed her, too.

“So I guess I came across as the one most scared of kissing the pig. However, my work was not done. Photographers insisted that I do it a few more times for additional pictures so I kissed the pig twice more!”

Reflecting on the experience later, Kirk said, “I have now kissed two pigs a total of five times and will never again make this promise — unless it is necessary to get students to read!”

The Impact Summer Reading Fund — which involves no pigs — will help the Rowan-Salisbury Schools provide a book for every rising sixth- through 12th-grader in the system. The goal is $76,000.

Here’s the latest:

Total as of May 25 … $24,877.22

For East Rowan High School, from Phil Kirk … $100

For Knox Middle school, from Phil Kirk … $100

In honor of my students at North Rowan High School, from Julie S. Pinkston … $50

F&M Bank Foundation … $500

For elementary children, from Martha West … $200

For Salisbury High School, graduating three generations of Safrits — Harold C., ’31; H. Deal, ’68; Daphne, ’01 — from Deal Safrit and Sheila Brownlow … $100

Today’s total … $25,927.22