Son of George and Ida Wood Blanton
beloved husband of Nancy Dicks Blanton
beloved father of Nancy Blanton Siegel, Catherine Blanton Freedberg, Lydia Lee Farfour
SHELBY - Mr. George Blanton Jr., 86, of 319 N. Lafayette St., died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at his home.
Born Sept. 3, 1914, in Shelby, he was a son of the late George and Ida Wood Blanton. He attended the Shelby Schools, graduated from McCallie School at Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1931 and enrolled in the University of North Carolina, where he received a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1935. After an apprenticeship with the American Trust Co. in Charlotte, he returned to Shelby in 1936 to work with First National Bank. He is the third direct generation of the Blanton family to make banking his lifetime career. In 1947, he became the president of First National Bank at the age of 32 and was said to be the youngest president of a national bank in the United States at that time. He was named president and chairman of the board in 1959, becoming chief executive officer and chairman of the board in 1979. In 1996, he became chairman emeritus. He was recognized in 1997 for 60 years of membership in the North Carolina Bankers Association.
A strong community builder, he was an advocate of the county's business and industrial life. He was instrumental in the development and organization of a number of businesses and industrial enterprises in Cleveland County. On a broader level, he became the first chairman of the N.C. Young Bankers Association and served as a member of the board of directors of the Fifth Federal Reserve District. He was a member of the Fifth Regional Advisory Committee of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
He served in the Navy during World War II as a Ship Service Officer of the Naval Receiving Station at Anacostia, D.C., retiring as lieutenant, junior grade, in 1946. He has been the volunteer chairman of the Cleveland County U.S. Savings Bond program.
In 1964, he was appointed to the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond and served as a member of the Federal Advisory Commission to the U.S. Comptroller of the Currency. In 1966, he was named by Gov. Dan Moore, to the board of trustees of the N.C. Orthopedic Hospital in Gastonia.
He was a charter member and officer in the Shelby Junior Chamber of Commerce as well as director and vice president of the Shelby Chamber of Commerce. He was a former president and director of the Shelby Downtown Improvement Corp., a charter member and past president of the Cleveland County Historical Association and was a past president of the Shelby Lions Club. He was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Shelby and was twice president of the Cleveland County United Fund. The press box at the Shelby High School stadium is named in his honor. He was recognized in 1999 with a Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Foothills Merry-Go-Round Festival.
He was elected twice as chairman of the board of advisors at Gardner-Webb University and served as a trustee of Gardner-Webb University at the time he became ill two years ago. He was awarded a doctorate of humanities from Gardner-Webb in 1997 and was named Trustee Emeritus in 1999. The auditorium of Hamrick Hall was named in his honor in 2000.
He has lived in his home since 1936. The house is on the National Historic Register and eventually the home will be donated to the North Carolina Historic Preservation Association.
He has been associated with the promotion of agriculture in Cleveland County and the state. At Blanton Farms, he developed one of the outstanding herds of Jersey cattle in the United States, receiving recognition locally and nationally. Since the dispersal of the dairy in 1971, he continued his interest by raising beef cattle.
He served as director and treasurer of the N.C. Jersey Cattle Breeders Association, director of the N.C. State Agricultural Association and director and vice president of the Cleveland County Fair Association.
He enjoyed horses, and his hobbies included flying his own airplane, fine furniture craftsmanship, bird hunting and tennis.
In addition to being president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of First National Bank, he was past president of Eagle Roller Mill, past director of Dover and Ora Mills, Shelby Cotton Mills, P and M Warehouse Co., Star Publishing Co., past secretary and director of Shelby Radio Corp. and past vice president and director of both Seal Wire Co. and Artee Industries. He was a charter member of the board of advisors of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Nancy Dicks Blanton Siegel, and his sister, Millicent Blanton Thompson.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Coltrane Dicks Blanton; two daughters and a son-in-law, Catherine Wood Blanton Freedberg, Ph.D., of Washington, D.C., and Lydia Lee Blanton and W. Neil Farfour of Aiken, S.C.; and three grandchildren, Sydney Joseph Freedberg Jr., Charles Rush Hamrick IV and George Blanton Hamrick; and a sister, Caroline Blanton Thayer Bland of Boston.
The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church with the Rev. Tony Tench officiating.
Burial will be in Sunset Cemetery with the Rev. Gene McDowell officiating.
Contributor: Gary (51104868)
beloved husband of Nancy Dicks Blanton
beloved father of Nancy Blanton Siegel, Catherine Blanton Freedberg, Lydia Lee Farfour
SHELBY - Mr. George Blanton Jr., 86, of 319 N. Lafayette St., died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at his home.
Born Sept. 3, 1914, in Shelby, he was a son of the late George and Ida Wood Blanton. He attended the Shelby Schools, graduated from McCallie School at Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1931 and enrolled in the University of North Carolina, where he received a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1935. After an apprenticeship with the American Trust Co. in Charlotte, he returned to Shelby in 1936 to work with First National Bank. He is the third direct generation of the Blanton family to make banking his lifetime career. In 1947, he became the president of First National Bank at the age of 32 and was said to be the youngest president of a national bank in the United States at that time. He was named president and chairman of the board in 1959, becoming chief executive officer and chairman of the board in 1979. In 1996, he became chairman emeritus. He was recognized in 1997 for 60 years of membership in the North Carolina Bankers Association.
A strong community builder, he was an advocate of the county's business and industrial life. He was instrumental in the development and organization of a number of businesses and industrial enterprises in Cleveland County. On a broader level, he became the first chairman of the N.C. Young Bankers Association and served as a member of the board of directors of the Fifth Federal Reserve District. He was a member of the Fifth Regional Advisory Committee of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
He served in the Navy during World War II as a Ship Service Officer of the Naval Receiving Station at Anacostia, D.C., retiring as lieutenant, junior grade, in 1946. He has been the volunteer chairman of the Cleveland County U.S. Savings Bond program.
In 1964, he was appointed to the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond and served as a member of the Federal Advisory Commission to the U.S. Comptroller of the Currency. In 1966, he was named by Gov. Dan Moore, to the board of trustees of the N.C. Orthopedic Hospital in Gastonia.
He was a charter member and officer in the Shelby Junior Chamber of Commerce as well as director and vice president of the Shelby Chamber of Commerce. He was a former president and director of the Shelby Downtown Improvement Corp., a charter member and past president of the Cleveland County Historical Association and was a past president of the Shelby Lions Club. He was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Shelby and was twice president of the Cleveland County United Fund. The press box at the Shelby High School stadium is named in his honor. He was recognized in 1999 with a Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Foothills Merry-Go-Round Festival.
He was elected twice as chairman of the board of advisors at Gardner-Webb University and served as a trustee of Gardner-Webb University at the time he became ill two years ago. He was awarded a doctorate of humanities from Gardner-Webb in 1997 and was named Trustee Emeritus in 1999. The auditorium of Hamrick Hall was named in his honor in 2000.
He has lived in his home since 1936. The house is on the National Historic Register and eventually the home will be donated to the North Carolina Historic Preservation Association.
He has been associated with the promotion of agriculture in Cleveland County and the state. At Blanton Farms, he developed one of the outstanding herds of Jersey cattle in the United States, receiving recognition locally and nationally. Since the dispersal of the dairy in 1971, he continued his interest by raising beef cattle.
He served as director and treasurer of the N.C. Jersey Cattle Breeders Association, director of the N.C. State Agricultural Association and director and vice president of the Cleveland County Fair Association.
He enjoyed horses, and his hobbies included flying his own airplane, fine furniture craftsmanship, bird hunting and tennis.
In addition to being president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of First National Bank, he was past president of Eagle Roller Mill, past director of Dover and Ora Mills, Shelby Cotton Mills, P and M Warehouse Co., Star Publishing Co., past secretary and director of Shelby Radio Corp. and past vice president and director of both Seal Wire Co. and Artee Industries. He was a charter member of the board of advisors of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Nancy Dicks Blanton Siegel, and his sister, Millicent Blanton Thompson.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Coltrane Dicks Blanton; two daughters and a son-in-law, Catherine Wood Blanton Freedberg, Ph.D., of Washington, D.C., and Lydia Lee Blanton and W. Neil Farfour of Aiken, S.C.; and three grandchildren, Sydney Joseph Freedberg Jr., Charles Rush Hamrick IV and George Blanton Hamrick; and a sister, Caroline Blanton Thayer Bland of Boston.
The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church with the Rev. Tony Tench officiating.
Burial will be in Sunset Cemetery with the Rev. Gene McDowell officiating.
Contributor: Gary (51104868)
Son of George and Ida Wood Blanton
beloved husband of Nancy Dicks Blanton
beloved father of Nancy Blanton Siegel, Catherine Blanton Freedberg, Lydia Lee Farfour
SHELBY - Mr. George Blanton Jr., 86, of 319 N. Lafayette St., died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at his home.
Born Sept. 3, 1914, in Shelby, he was a son of the late George and Ida Wood Blanton. He attended the Shelby Schools, graduated from McCallie School at Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1931 and enrolled in the University of North Carolina, where he received a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1935. After an apprenticeship with the American Trust Co. in Charlotte, he returned to Shelby in 1936 to work with First National Bank. He is the third direct generation of the Blanton family to make banking his lifetime career. In 1947, he became the president of First National Bank at the age of 32 and was said to be the youngest president of a national bank in the United States at that time. He was named president and chairman of the board in 1959, becoming chief executive officer and chairman of the board in 1979. In 1996, he became chairman emeritus. He was recognized in 1997 for 60 years of membership in the North Carolina Bankers Association.
A strong community builder, he was an advocate of the county's business and industrial life. He was instrumental in the development and organization of a number of businesses and industrial enterprises in Cleveland County. On a broader level, he became the first chairman of the N.C. Young Bankers Association and served as a member of the board of directors of the Fifth Federal Reserve District. He was a member of the Fifth Regional Advisory Committee of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
He served in the Navy during World War II as a Ship Service Officer of the Naval Receiving Station at Anacostia, D.C., retiring as lieutenant, junior grade, in 1946. He has been the volunteer chairman of the Cleveland County U.S. Savings Bond program.
In 1964, he was appointed to the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond and served as a member of the Federal Advisory Commission to the U.S. Comptroller of the Currency. In 1966, he was named by Gov. Dan Moore, to the board of trustees of the N.C. Orthopedic Hospital in Gastonia.
He was a charter member and officer in the Shelby Junior Chamber of Commerce as well as director and vice president of the Shelby Chamber of Commerce. He was a former president and director of the Shelby Downtown Improvement Corp., a charter member and past president of the Cleveland County Historical Association and was a past president of the Shelby Lions Club. He was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Shelby and was twice president of the Cleveland County United Fund. The press box at the Shelby High School stadium is named in his honor. He was recognized in 1999 with a Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Foothills Merry-Go-Round Festival.
He was elected twice as chairman of the board of advisors at Gardner-Webb University and served as a trustee of Gardner-Webb University at the time he became ill two years ago. He was awarded a doctorate of humanities from Gardner-Webb in 1997 and was named Trustee Emeritus in 1999. The auditorium of Hamrick Hall was named in his honor in 2000.
He has lived in his home since 1936. The house is on the National Historic Register and eventually the home will be donated to the North Carolina Historic Preservation Association.
He has been associated with the promotion of agriculture in Cleveland County and the state. At Blanton Farms, he developed one of the outstanding herds of Jersey cattle in the United States, receiving recognition locally and nationally. Since the dispersal of the dairy in 1971, he continued his interest by raising beef cattle.
He served as director and treasurer of the N.C. Jersey Cattle Breeders Association, director of the N.C. State Agricultural Association and director and vice president of the Cleveland County Fair Association.
He enjoyed horses, and his hobbies included flying his own airplane, fine furniture craftsmanship, bird hunting and tennis.
In addition to being president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of First National Bank, he was past president of Eagle Roller Mill, past director of Dover and Ora Mills, Shelby Cotton Mills, P and M Warehouse Co., Star Publishing Co., past secretary and director of Shelby Radio Corp. and past vice president and director of both Seal Wire Co. and Artee Industries. He was a charter member of the board of advisors of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Nancy Dicks Blanton Siegel, and his sister, Millicent Blanton Thompson.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Coltrane Dicks Blanton; two daughters and a son-in-law, Catherine Wood Blanton Freedberg, Ph.D., of Washington, D.C., and Lydia Lee Blanton and W. Neil Farfour of Aiken, S.C.; and three grandchildren, Sydney Joseph Freedberg Jr., Charles Rush Hamrick IV and George Blanton Hamrick; and a sister, Caroline Blanton Thayer Bland of Boston.
The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church with the Rev. Tony Tench officiating.
Burial will be in Sunset Cemetery with the Rev. Gene McDowell officiating.
Contributor: Gary (51104868)
beloved husband of Nancy Dicks Blanton
beloved father of Nancy Blanton Siegel, Catherine Blanton Freedberg, Lydia Lee Farfour
SHELBY - Mr. George Blanton Jr., 86, of 319 N. Lafayette St., died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at his home.
Born Sept. 3, 1914, in Shelby, he was a son of the late George and Ida Wood Blanton. He attended the Shelby Schools, graduated from McCallie School at Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1931 and enrolled in the University of North Carolina, where he received a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1935. After an apprenticeship with the American Trust Co. in Charlotte, he returned to Shelby in 1936 to work with First National Bank. He is the third direct generation of the Blanton family to make banking his lifetime career. In 1947, he became the president of First National Bank at the age of 32 and was said to be the youngest president of a national bank in the United States at that time. He was named president and chairman of the board in 1959, becoming chief executive officer and chairman of the board in 1979. In 1996, he became chairman emeritus. He was recognized in 1997 for 60 years of membership in the North Carolina Bankers Association.
A strong community builder, he was an advocate of the county's business and industrial life. He was instrumental in the development and organization of a number of businesses and industrial enterprises in Cleveland County. On a broader level, he became the first chairman of the N.C. Young Bankers Association and served as a member of the board of directors of the Fifth Federal Reserve District. He was a member of the Fifth Regional Advisory Committee of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
He served in the Navy during World War II as a Ship Service Officer of the Naval Receiving Station at Anacostia, D.C., retiring as lieutenant, junior grade, in 1946. He has been the volunteer chairman of the Cleveland County U.S. Savings Bond program.
In 1964, he was appointed to the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond and served as a member of the Federal Advisory Commission to the U.S. Comptroller of the Currency. In 1966, he was named by Gov. Dan Moore, to the board of trustees of the N.C. Orthopedic Hospital in Gastonia.
He was a charter member and officer in the Shelby Junior Chamber of Commerce as well as director and vice president of the Shelby Chamber of Commerce. He was a former president and director of the Shelby Downtown Improvement Corp., a charter member and past president of the Cleveland County Historical Association and was a past president of the Shelby Lions Club. He was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Shelby and was twice president of the Cleveland County United Fund. The press box at the Shelby High School stadium is named in his honor. He was recognized in 1999 with a Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Foothills Merry-Go-Round Festival.
He was elected twice as chairman of the board of advisors at Gardner-Webb University and served as a trustee of Gardner-Webb University at the time he became ill two years ago. He was awarded a doctorate of humanities from Gardner-Webb in 1997 and was named Trustee Emeritus in 1999. The auditorium of Hamrick Hall was named in his honor in 2000.
He has lived in his home since 1936. The house is on the National Historic Register and eventually the home will be donated to the North Carolina Historic Preservation Association.
He has been associated with the promotion of agriculture in Cleveland County and the state. At Blanton Farms, he developed one of the outstanding herds of Jersey cattle in the United States, receiving recognition locally and nationally. Since the dispersal of the dairy in 1971, he continued his interest by raising beef cattle.
He served as director and treasurer of the N.C. Jersey Cattle Breeders Association, director of the N.C. State Agricultural Association and director and vice president of the Cleveland County Fair Association.
He enjoyed horses, and his hobbies included flying his own airplane, fine furniture craftsmanship, bird hunting and tennis.
In addition to being president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of First National Bank, he was past president of Eagle Roller Mill, past director of Dover and Ora Mills, Shelby Cotton Mills, P and M Warehouse Co., Star Publishing Co., past secretary and director of Shelby Radio Corp. and past vice president and director of both Seal Wire Co. and Artee Industries. He was a charter member of the board of advisors of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Nancy Dicks Blanton Siegel, and his sister, Millicent Blanton Thompson.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Coltrane Dicks Blanton; two daughters and a son-in-law, Catherine Wood Blanton Freedberg, Ph.D., of Washington, D.C., and Lydia Lee Blanton and W. Neil Farfour of Aiken, S.C.; and three grandchildren, Sydney Joseph Freedberg Jr., Charles Rush Hamrick IV and George Blanton Hamrick; and a sister, Caroline Blanton Thayer Bland of Boston.
The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church with the Rev. Tony Tench officiating.
Burial will be in Sunset Cemetery with the Rev. Gene McDowell officiating.
Contributor: Gary (51104868)
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
