W. Roger Soles

William Roger Soles, 84, died Wednesday, October 20, 2004, at Well Spring Assisted Living.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 23, 2004, at West Market Street United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
The second of four children, Mr. Soles was born September 16, 1920, in Whiteville, North Carolina, to the late John William and Margaret Watts Soles. He graduated as valedictorian from Whiteville High School at the age of 14, the school's youngest graduate ever. After high school, he entered Presbyterian Junior College, graduated, and then enrolled as a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before graduation he left school and worked briefly at farming and as a department store clerk before joining the Army Air Corps at the onset of World War II.
Mr. Soles was trained as a combat navigator and was assigned to the 70th Bomb Squadron. During a bombing run in the Solomon Islands his B-26 was shot down. After bailing out into the ocean, he and the surviving crew swam to an enemy held island and spent several days hiding in the jungle before being rescued by a patrolling submarine. He often recalled his time in World War II as the turning point in his life.
Following World War II, Mr. Soles returned to UNC intending to become a lawyer. However, due to scheduling, he was unable to enroll immediately in law school so he signed up for accounting classes. He became so interested in accounting that he remained in the program and graduated with a B.S. degree in Commerce in 1947.
Mr. Soles was offered several jobs upon graduation, but accepted an offer from Jefferson Standard Life to join a new securities department. He rose rapidly through the ranks in the Securities Department and in 1964 was given additional responsibilities as assistant to the President of the company. Two years later he was named Executive Vice President of the company and, in 1967, was named President. Upon the merger of Jefferson Standard Life and Pilot Life in 1986, Mr. Soles became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the new Jefferson-Pilot Corporation. Mr. Soles retired in 1993, having served the company for 46 years and in the chief executive capacity for 25 years.
Active in industry affairs, Mr. Soles served as the first Chairman of the American Council of Life Insurance, the trade association of some 370 insurance companies. At one point, Mr. Soles served simultaneously on the governing bodies of the three principal management organizations within the life insurance industry. He also served as Chairman of the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry; the North Carolina Council of Economic Education; the Business Foundation of North Carolina; the North Carolina Insurance Education Foundation; and numerous other local, state and national associations. Mr. Soles also served as a Director of NCNB Corporation and Piedmont Natural Gas.
Mr. Soles' list of charitable and civic activities is lengthy and includes: Chairman of the Board of Trustees of High Point University; first Chairman of the Greensboro Development Corporation; a co- founder and Chairman of the Community Foundation of Greensboro; Chairman of the Independent College Fund of North Carolina; Director of the Children's Home Society of North Carolina; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Wesley Long Community Hospital; Honorary Chairman of the United Arts Fund; Honorary Chairman of the Greater Greensboro Open; Chairman of the Administrative Board of West Market Street United Methodist Church; President of the Greensboro Country Club; founder and President of the Greensboro City Club; and a member of the Greensboro Rotary Club.
Mr. Soles is a graduate of the Executive Program at UNC and earned his CLU designation. He received an Honorary LL.D. degree from Campbell University in 1981 and a Doctor of Humane Letters from High Point University in 1996. Mr. Soles was named Distinguished Citizen of the Year by the Greater Greensboro Chamber of Commerce in 1986; was inducted into the Greensboro Business Leaders Hall of Fame by Guilford County Junior Achievement in 1986; received the citation for Distinguished Citizenship from North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry in 1993; and was inducted into the North Carolina Business Hall of Fame in 1997.
Outside of the office, Mr. Soles was a dedicated family man and a thoughtful husband, father, father- in-law and grandfather. He instilled in his family his high integrity, absolute honesty and values-driven ethics. He was an avid fisherman and particularly loved relaxing with friends at fish frys and other gatherings. He was as comfortable in the woods as in the board room and spent countless hours in the field, on lakes and on back-country roads. His sharp mind made him an excellent card player and interested in politics, where he was active on a local, state and national level. He was a dedicated UNC fan and avid golfer. His good humor, wit and friendship will be fondly remembered.
Mr. Soles is survived by his daughter, Majelle Janette Soles of Raleigh; son, William Roger Soles, Jr. and wife, Melanie of Greensboro; sister, Hazel S. Soles of Columbia, SC; grandchildren, William Roger Soles, III and Catherine Reid Soles of Greensboro; and four nephews and one niece.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Majelle Morris Soles; and his sisters, Dr. Myrtle S. Erck and Kathleen Soles.
The family would like to thank his secretary of 26 years, Mary Lou Willis, and his housekeeper of 48 years, Mae Lois Hill, for their devoted and loyal assistance.
Memorials may be made to West Market Street United Methodist Church.
A visitation will be held at Hanes- Lineberry, North Elm Street Funeral Home on Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and at all other times at the home of Bill and Melanie Soles at 621 Woodland Drive in Greensboro.