Celebrate Wilmington to honor Eshelman with star

Two decades after moving his company to the Port City, Fred Eshelman’s achievements literally tower over Wilmington.

Celebrate Wilmington will honor the founder of the pharmaceutical research firm PPD with a star on the city’s Walk of Fame.

The dedication ceremony is scheduled for 4:00 Thursday afternoon at the Cotton Exchange downtown.

The Walk of Fame is a permanent record of notables who have lived, worked or enriched the Cape Fear coast community.

Eshelman joins the likes of sports stars Althea Gibson and Meadowlark Lemon and actor Pat Hingle, who was honored just before his death last year.