William Foster Carl

July 20, 1941 - April 16, 2005
William Foster "Bill" Carl, 63, died peacefully at his home, Tall Oaks Farm, on April 16, 2005.
He was born and raised in Sylvania,Ohio, and was the oldest son of the late Alfred (Buss) Carl and Betty Carl. Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Caroline I.MacNair Carl, and his brother, Thomas Edward Carl, and many nieces and nephews. He is fondly remembered by a host of friends and colleagues, gathered from a long and happy association with the Golden Corral Corporation and from his many civic activities, in his adopted North Carolina home.
After attending Ohio public schools and achieving Eagle Scout status, Bill Carl earned a business degree from Bowling Green State University in 1963. From there he launched a career that took him first to Florida, and then, in 1973, to North Carolina where he established roots in the corporate, philanthropic, and political arenas. He, with his partner and life-long friend James Maynard, conceived the idea of a family steak house franchise and opened the first Golden Corral restaurant in Fayetteville in January, 1973. From this modest beginning, the franchise chain has prospered and currently boasts 385 family restaurants in 39 states. The success of the Golden Corral concept has been recognized in scores of trade and business journals, and emulated by many other franchise concepts. Bill Carl and James Maynard never lost sight of the fact that the corporation's hallmark rests with the fostering of excellent employees imbued with an attitude of success and public service, allowing the company to be recognized as the national leader in family dining. Bill Carl's three decade-long contributions to Golden Corral were recognized on April 6, 2005, with the establishment of the William F. Carl Scholarship Fund for the development of food service professionals.
Bill Carl's many business accomplishments were complemented by his profound interest in his community and in the well-being of the state's schoolchildren. In 1987 Bill was awarded a Charter Membership in the Wake Forest University Pro Humanitate Society that seeks to advance excellence in higher education. He was especially interested in instilling sound social values in children, and became very involved in finding avenues to provide character education in the Wake County Public School curriculum. In 1996 Bill and Caroline Carl were recognized by the Community Character Forum for their commitment to school-based character development throughout Wake County, and in 1999 the county school system was named the first National School District of Character in the United States. Bill was also chair of the Foundation for Good Business Extra Special Super Kids program, which provides college scholarships for children in difficult circumstances, and was deeply involved in the Institute for Global Ethics that seeks to promote a broad array of ethical behavior initiatives through research, public discourse and practical action. He was active in state and local politics, and many successful candidates sat on his porch to listen to his good-humored, sound advice.
Bill had a smile bigger than the sun and a heart as large as the oceans. He loved his life on Tall Oaks Farm, and exhibited a deep love and respect for the earth and all its creatures. He was often seen walking his dog, Lucky, whom he rescued from a roadside, rejoicing with the rising sun over his pasture filled with mares and foals. Bill shared his joy and serenity with his beloved wife Caroline and scores of friends, and will always be a part of the landscape he loved. Bill Carl's life of professional success and community service, together with his abiding sense of stewardship, is an inspiration to all of his friends. It is with that thought in mind that the family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials to Bill be made to the William F. Carl Scholarship Fund/North Carolina Restaurant Association, Attention: Doris Baldwin, 5151 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27612.
A celebration of Bill Carl's life will be held on the lawn at Tall Oaks Farm on a date to be announced.
Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary's St.