John Pope
This week’s NC Notable has demonstrated leadership in business, politics, and philanthropy.
John William Pope, Senior took his daddy’s five dry goods stores at age 24 and leveraged them into the 600-store, 8-thousand employee retail discount king Variety Wholesalers. He changed the “dime store” concept and became one of the country’s best known turn-around artists at Maxway, Roses, and Bargain Town stores.
He switched from the Democratic Party in 1984 and has been credited with doing more to help the Republican Party than anyone in the state. He started The John Locke Foundation, John William Pope Foundation, and the Civitas Institute.
Pope became a leader in state business and civic life. He was simultaneously frugal and generous. His philanthropy spans causes too numerous to mention, but Pope has been generous in giving back to his native state, especially his alma mater UNC, and Campbell University.
This tribute was prepared before his death at age 81 in August of this year.
For John Pope’s business savvy, political activism, and charitable giving we honor him as this week’s NC Notable.
Previous NC Notables
08.17.2006 Billy Packer
08.10.2006 Bishop Francis Joseph Gossman
08.03.2006 John G. Medlin
07.27.2006 Dr. Larry Wheeler
07.20.2006 Dr. Dianne Suber
07.13.2006 Dr. Kenneth Edward Peacock
07.06.2006 Ira David Wood III
06.29.2006 Betsy Bennett
06.22.2006 Phail Wynn
06.15.2006 Richard Vinroot
06.08.2006 Nicholas Sparks
06.01.2006 Robert Burren Morgan
05.25.2006 Howard Lee
05.18.2006 James “Mickey” Efird
05.11.2006 Franklin Graham
05.04.2006 William Barber
04.27.2006 Bob Hall
04.20.2006 Mack Pearsall
04.13.2006 Gail Goestenkors
04.06.2006 John Forlines
03.30.2006 Jerry Miller
03.23.2006 Maceo Sloan
03.16.2006 Terry Holland
03.09.2006 Lindsay Warren, Jr
03.02.2006 John Davis
02.23.2006 Jim Goodnight
02.16.2006 Norman Wiggins
02.09.2006 Philip Blumenthal
02.02.2006 Harvey Gantt
01.26.2006 Jerry Bledsoe
01.19.2006 Helen Powers
01.12.2006 Ty Boyd
01.05.2006 Erskine Bowles
12.29.2005 Henry Frye
12.22.2005 Gene Boyce
12.15.2005 Doris Betts
12.08.2005 Molly Corbett Broad
12.01.2005 John Hope Franklin
11.24.2005 Richard Petty
11.17.2005 Annabelle Lundy Fetterman
11.10.2005 James Baxter Hunt
11.03.2005 Maya Angelou
10.27.2005 Mike Krzyzewski
10.20.2005 Jim Broyhill
10.13.2005 Reynolds Price
10.06.2005 Kay Yow
09.29.2005 Van Eure
09.22.2005 Mary Semans
09.15.2005 John Dornan
09.08.2005 Eva Clayton
09.01.2005 Lois Britt
08.25.2005 Fred Barber
08.18.2005 Julius Chambers
08.11.2005 Martha Guy
08.04.2005 Nido Qubein
07.28.2005 Jeanette Hyde
07.21.2005 Billy Graham
07.14.2005 Lee Smith
07.07.2005 Ralph Ketner
06.30.2005 Thomas Hearn
06.23.2005 John Allison
06.16.2005 Jim Martin
06.02.2005 Darleen Johns
05.26.2005 Hugh Morton
05.19.2005 Bernie Mann
05.12.2005 Orrin H. Pilkey
05.05.2005 William Friday
04.28.2005 Annie Louise Wilkerson
04.21.2005 Martin Lancaster
04.14.2005 Shirley Caesar
04.07.2005 Carl Fox
03.31.2005 Bob Jordan
03.24.2005 Ann T. Denlinger
|