George S. Erath
Whereas, he graduated from Lane Technical High School where he was a standout athlete in football, and he later attended the University of Indiana on a football scholarship until his athletic and academic career was interrupted by the Second World War; and
Whereas, he played for the Army football and baseball teams in Europe and upon his return home he tried out for the Chicago Cubs at the fabled Wrigley Field; and
Whereas, he signed a professional contract with the Chicago Cubs Organization as a promising young pitcher and spent the next six years traveling the United States pitching for various professional minor league teams. During this time George etched his name in baseball history by giving up a homerun to a young man named Mickey Mantle; and
Whereas, he enrolled at High Point University during his baseball years and graduated with a B.S. in Business in 1952 and later completed his M.B.A. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and
Whereas, he briefly worked at J.P. Stevens as an accountant but soon succumbed to his life's passion, baseball, and after attending Baseball Management School at Florida Southern College, he was hired as the General Manager of the HI-Toms Baseball Team, bringing a future pillar of the community to High Point, NC; and
Whereas, he began an illustrious career in the veneer Industry by establishing his own company, Erath Veneer sales Company in High Point, NC and ten years later the purchase of Helms veneer Mill in Rocky Mount, VA added an additional division, Erath Veneer Corporation of Virginia, to the family business; and
Whereas, he was Chairman of the High Point University Board of Trustees, Chairman of the High Point Regional Hospital, Chairman of the Presbyterian Home, Chairman of the High Point Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Wachovia Bank Board, Chairman of the UNC Educational Foundation, Chairman of the High Point Partnership, Chairman of the Furniture Discovery Center, Board Member; High Point City Schools, the High Point YMCA, and the High Point United Way, the Richard and Sybel Hayworth Foundation, the Haggai Foundation; and
Whereas, he was named the High Point Enterprise "Citizen of the Year," High Point University's "Distinguished Alumnus of the Year," the High Point Public School's "Verta Idol Coe Award" recipient, and the High Point Chamber of Commerce's "Citizen of the Year," for his roles as leader and benefactor of our community; and
Whereas, he was a man who was passionately devoted to his family; he was a devoted husband to Shirley with whom he traveled the world and shared his life, a loving father to Ron, George II, Michael, Debbie, and Marion, and a doting grandfather to Sterling, Stevie Gordon, Tyler, Logan, William, Hensley, Matthew, Zachary, Caleb, Nathan, Bethany, Ruthie Rachel, Robbie, Landon, Collin; and
Whereas, he was a founding member of the High Point Community foundation's first Board of Trustees; he served on the Executive Board, he served as Chairman and directed with vision the first Community Foundation Grants Committee, and he was named the 2002 High Point Community Foundation "Philanthropist of the Year" for his leadership, his generosity, and his commitment to the community of High Point; and
Now therefore be it resolved that the High Point Community Foundation does on this day of February 11th, 2004, take note of the passing of George Erath; that the Foundation does acknowledge with gratitude his numerous contributions to the life of this community and to the High Point Community Foundation; be it further resolved that copies of this Resolution be made a part of the minutes of this meeting and a copy conveyed to members of his family.