Harry J. Nicholas

Harry J. Nicholas
Mr. Nicholas, of Charlotte, a retired First Citizens Bank executive, died Monday, August 15, 2005 after a long battle with cancer. He was 75.
A native of Valley Stream, Long Island, NY he was the son of Blanche and Harry P. Nicholas and was born September 28, 1929. An outstanding athlete, he played football, basketball and baseball in high school, leading the team to two state baseball championships. After graduation he accepted a baseball scholarship to Wake Forest and was one of the stars on the 1949 Deacon team that was runner-up for the national championship. One of his most memorable victories was a 2-0, three-hit win over a Yale team lead by George Bush. He graduated with a BS degree in 1952 and is a member of the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame.
After college, Nicholas signed a professional baseball contract with the New York Giants and played seven years, pitching for such teams as Buffalo, Minneapolis, Oakland and Ottawa. He joined First Citizens Bank in 1958 and was transferred to Charlotte in 1961. At the time of his retirement in 1995, he was Regional Vice President of the Charlotte area. He remained with the bank as a consultant until the time of his death.
During his colorful business career, Nicholas was one of Charlotte's most active civic, charitable and social workers. He served as a director of the Chamber of Commerce, UNC-Charlotte Athletic Foundation, Junior Achievement, the NC Bankers Assn., Salvation Army, Carolinas Carousel, University Research Park, Merchants Assn., Presbyterian Hospital, Employers Assn., UNCC Board of Visitors, and the Good Fellows Club. He was a past treasurer of the United Cerebral Palsy and United Community Service and was a past president of Central Piedmont Industries.
An avid golfer, he served as chairman of the Kemper Open Golf Tournament, the Paine Webber Invitational, and the Home Depot Invitational. He was named the Charlotte Sportsman's Club "Sportsman of the Year" in 1980 for his many accomplishments in golf. He won the Quail Hollow club championship six times.
He was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church, the City Club, Quail Hollow Country Club, and a former member of Carmel Country Club.
Nicholas is survived by his wife of 54 years, the former Virginia Clayton of Raleigh, whom he met at Wake Forest; a daughter, Debra Dawson, of Charlotte and her husband, Rick; a son, Clay, of Atlanta; two grandchildren, Nicholas and Clayton Dawson; and a sister, Peggy Ann Whalen, of New York.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Thursday, August 18, 2005 at St. John's Episcopal Church. The family will receive friends at St. John's following the service. Burial will be private.
The family has asked that memorials be sent to the Good Fellows Club, 700 Parkwood Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205 or St. John's Episcopal Church, 1623 Carmel Rd., Charlotte, NC 28226.
Harry and Bryant Company is serving the family of Mr. Nicholas.