John Harper Fox

John Harper Fox, 88, of Wilmington, NC, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004, at his home in Wrightsville Beach, surrounded by family. He was born in Wilmington on Jan. 3, 1916, the son of Joseph and Louise Harper Fox. He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Mary Wallace Fox. Mr. Fox is survived by three children, Penelope Van Horn and husband John of Chicago, IL, Maggie Fox Udall and husband, Congressman Mark Udall of Boulder, CO and John H. Fox Jr. and wife Martha, of Geneseo, NY; eight grandchildren, Christopher Van Horn and Marget Maurer, Harper, Gordon, Oliver and Mary Wallace Fox, and Jed and Tess Fox Udall; also a sister, Louise McDaniel of Wilmington. In his junior year at N.C. State College, he came home to run the family business, the Royal Bakery of Wilmington, due to his father's illness. He continued for the next 55 years serving as President and Treasurer of the Bakery, later known as Fox's Holsum Bakery, Inc. Under his leadership, the bakery became one of the oldest and foremost family-owned baking businesses on the Eastern Seaboard. In the 1950s, Mr. Fox acquired the trademark label, Holsum. He was instrumental in expanding the national cooperative of independent baking businesses in the W.E. Long, Co. headquartered in Chicago. Mr. Fox served as the only three term Chairman of the Board. Mr. Fox's civic engagement was extensive. In 1964, he was the Wilmington Star-News Citizen of the Year for his outstanding public service. He served on numerous Boards of Directors for over 30 years, including the local savings and loan, bank, hospital, nursing home, mens' clubs and citizens' clubs. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce for over 45 years and served as Chairman for three terms. Mr. Fox worked for many years to bring the U.S.S. North Carolina to Wilmington, its permanent home. He served as Treasurer of the Battleship Commission and was Chairman of the Site Selection Committee. Memorials may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1406 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC, 28401.