Mr. Roger Gant, Jr.
July 26, 2010Mr. Roger Gant, Jr., 86, of 1016 W. Davis Street, Burlington, died on Monday, July 26, 2010 at his residence after a brief illness.
A native of Alamance County, Mr. Gant is survived by his wife of 61 years, Rose Ann Jordan Gant. He was the son of Roger Gant, Sr. and Agnes Ravenel Gant, both deceased.
Roger is survived by his children, Katherine Anne Gant, of Burlington, Alice McLean Gant Coder and husband Gary, of Dallas, TX, Roger Gant, III and wife Susan, of Burlington; five grandchildren, Katherine Elizabeth Coder, Ellinor Ravenel Coder, Christopher Thomas Coder, Jordan Elizabeth Gant, and Roger Gant, IV; one brother, Edmund Gant and wife Betsy, of Burlington; three sisters, Mrs. Agnes Gant Harrison, of Southern Pines, Mrs. Erwin Gant Burhoe, of Asheville, Mrs. Catherine Gant Powell and husband Robert J., of Washington, NC; many nieces and nephews.
Roger attended Burlington Public Schools and Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA. He graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Commerce and later attended the UNC Executive Program. He joined Glen Raven Mills in 1948. Roger served as president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Glen Raven Mills from 1972 to 1989. He was a director of the board from 1946 until his retirement in 2001 when he became director emeritus.
A veteran of the United States Army, Roger served in the Infantry in The European Theater during World War II.
Roger’s trade associations include Private Industry Council, National Foundation for Study of Religion and Economics, and the Strategic Planning Institute. He was one of the founders of the NC Foundation for Research and Economic Education (NCFREE) and served as its first president. He was also the Associate Director of the Industrial Fabrics Association, International (IFAI), and the Director of the NC Textile Manufacturers Association.
In 1964, the New York Daily News Record named Roger one of four young men moving rapidly to the top of one of the world’s most competitive businesses, textiles. In 1993, he was recognized for his many contributions to the industry by receiving one of IFAI’s highest awards, the IFAI Chairman’s Award. In addition, Roger received the Lifetime Achievement Award from IFAI. Roger was the motivating force behind the development of a solution-dyed acrylic fabric. He coined the name for what has become the world’s standard in out-door fabrics and one of the most recognized brand names of any fabric in the textile industry, Sunbrella®.
Roger was heavily involved in community service, serving with United Way, Salvation Army, Arts Council, City Recreation Commission, YMCA, Burlington Board of Wachovia Bank and Trust Company, Elon College Trustee, Rotary Club and Boy Scouts. He served as Director of the North Carolina Children’s Home Society and also served as Vice Chairman of the NC Education Assistance Authority.
A lifetime member of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter, Roger served as vestryman, treasurer, senior warden, pulpit committee, chaired capital and operating fundraising drives, and trustee of Diocesan Episcopal Church Foundation.
The memorial service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 29, 2010 at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter with The Rev. Pam C. Webb and The Rev. Rod Reinecke officiating.
The family will be at Rich and Thompson Funeral Home in Burlington from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 28, 2010.
Memorials may be made to Helping Partners, Inc., Assistance Program for Glen Raven Employees, 1831 North Park Avenue, Glen Raven, NC 27217 and Alamance Regional Medical Center Heart Track Program, P.O. Box 202, Burlington, NC 27216.