John A. Forlines Jr.

John Arthur Forlines Jr., 92, a pioneering figure in community banking, passed away peacefully on Tuesday July 6, 2010.
Born January 8th, 1918 in Alamance County, he grew up in Durham and graduated from Duke University in 1939. He was based in London for six years during WWII, working in the U.S. Army’s Finance Department.
Mr. Forlines moved to Granite Falls in 1954 when he assumed a leadership position with the Bank of Granite, where he served as CEO. Under his 52-year leadership, he watched the one-office bank develop into an outstanding community institution. Upon his retirement in 2006, the Bank of Granite had grown to 21 branches. Mr. Forlines served as former Chairman of the North Carolina Bankers Association, was inducted into the North Carolina Business Hall of Fame in 1999, and the North Carolina Bankers Hall of Fame in 2001.
John Forlines honored his educational foundation through a lifetime of loyalty to his undergraduate institution. He served two terms as Trustee of Duke University, held the position of Trustee Emeritus, and was a former member of the Duke University Management Corporation. He was a Member of the Duke University Athletics Advisory Board and had served as President of the Duke University Half-Century Club. In 2008 he received the University Medal for Distinguished Meritorious Service, and in 2009 the Duke University Trustees Emeriti honored him with the naming of the John A. Forlines Jr. Alumni House.
Mr. Forlines’ passion for civic service and education rivaled his entrepreneurial dedication. He served as a leader in the creation of Caldwell County’s Hospice and Palliative Care, and later on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer. In 2010 a new inpatient center in Hudson, NC, was named in Mr. Forlines’ honor. He served on the Governor’s Business Council on the Arts and Humanities, and as President of the Catawba Valley Executive Club. He was a former President of the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce and served as an Executive Committee member on the Board of Directors. He served as Chairman for institutions including the State Board of Community Colleges and the Board of Directors of the Lenoir-Rhyne University Business Council. He also served as an Elder at the First Presbyterian Church in Lenoir, his home church since 1972.
Mr. Forlines was committed to providing educational opportunities and one of his most satisfying ventures was supporting Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, which he helped establish in the 1960s. He served as a Member of the Board of Directors and as a First Chairman on the Board of Trustees, and was appointed by the Governor to the State Board of Community Colleges, where he served as Chairman for six years. He offered 17 years of support to Camp Challenge, a summer academic program for high-achieving low-to-moderate income middle school students. From its inception, Mr. Forlines’ dedication helped Camp Challenge see more than 8,000 children benefit from financial literacy instruction.
Mr. Forlines’ service to the community was honored with numerous awards and distinctions.
In 2006, the Governor presented him with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, and to date he is the sole recipient of the Terry Sanford Lifetime Achievement Award (2002) given by the Democratic Party of North Carolina.
In 1975, he was named Caldwell County’s Man of the Year Award and received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2004), the National Hospice Foundation’s Volunteer of the Year Award (1997), and Lenoir Rhyne University’s Business Leader of the Year Award (1996).
He was preceded in death by his wife, Julia Dunn Forlines, parents, John A. Forlines Sr. and Nancy Hutchens Forlines, and sister, Ruth Forlines Dailey.
He is survived by his children, Mrs. James Tarlton, Jr. (Judith) of Hickory, Mrs. David Crosby (Joy) of Hickory, Mr. John A. Forlines III (wife, Anne) of Locust Valley, NY, and Ms. Jane Forlines of Hickory; grandchildren, Phillip Couch, Laurel Crosby, John David Crosby, Megan Forlines, Molly Forlines, John A. Forlines IV, Justin Greenhill, and Julia Greenhill; a sister, Mrs. Martha Lane Forney of Shelby; and nieces and nephews, John C. Dailey, Jr. (wife, Jane) of Durham, Nancy Dailey Beasley of Charlotte, Mrs. Lane Kneedler (Rebecca D.) of Charlottesville VA, Thomas J. Forney of Shelby, and Mrs. Alan Connolly (Alice F.) of Mt. Airy.
The family will receive friends at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home in Lenoir on Friday, July 9th from 6:00–8:00 pm.
A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Lenoir at 11:00 am on Saturday July 10, 2010 conducted by Rev. Robert Hinman and Rev. Parker T. Williamson.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Caldwell County Hospice and Palliative Care (902 Kirkwood, Lenoir NC, 28645), and Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (The Foundation of CCCTI, P.O. Box 600, Lenoir NC, 28645).
Online condolences may be left at www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com
Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.