Robert Earle Coleman

Robert Earle "Bob" Coleman, age 83, died at his home Friday, March 28, 2008. Born in Travelers Rest, SC, he was the son of the late James P. and Maude Stewart Coleman. He graduated from Greenville High School in 1942, joined the U.S. Marine Corp in 1943 and served in the Pacific and North China Theaters before being honorably discharged in 1946. After graduating from North Carolina State University in 1950, he worked with the Graniteville Company in Graniteville, GA and Anchor Rome Mills in Rome, GA until 1955 when he joined Riegel Textile Corp. in Trion, GA. He spent ten years 1959-1969 with Riegel in New York City, before returning to Greenville in 1969. He was elected Chairman and CEO of Riegel in 1975. Mr. Coleman retired from Riegel in 1985 and became Chairman of Textile Hall Corp., retiring from that position in 1998. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Greenville, where he served as an Elder and Trustee. Mr. Coleman was active in community affairs and agencies such as United Way, Boy Scouts of America, Greenville Hospital System, Greenville Health Care, Greenville Hospital System Foundation, YMCA, Greenville Technical College and others received support by his interests and efforts. In addition to his B.S. Degree from N.C. State University, he received honorary degrees from four universities and colleges in South Carolina. He served as director of Boise Cascade Corp., First Financial Management Corp., North Carolina National Bank, Manufacturers Hanover Bank, and several companies located in West Africa and France. He served as Chairman of the American Textile Manufacturers Institute, receiving the prestigious Samuel Slater Award, and Chairman of the Palmetto Business Forum. Mr. Coleman was the first person without a law degree to be appointed and to serve on a committee of the South Carolina Supreme Court. Surviving are his wife, Jane Williams Coleman; two daughters, Deborah Aughtry of Greenville; and Elizabeth Aughtry and son-in-law, David Aughtry of Atlanta, GA; one son, Robert E. Coleman, Jr, of Wilmington, NC; six grandchildren, Paul Aughtry IV and wife Jill of Eagle, ID, Leigh Holloway and husband Scott of Greenville, Meredith Randall and husband Dave of Austin, TX, Alex Aughtry of New Orleans, LA, and Haley and Jake Coleman of Wilmington, NC; five great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Lucile C. Taylor and Lois C. Warne, both of Greenville. A memorial service will be conducted Monday at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church by Rev. Richard Gibbons. Dr. Randolph Kowalski will be assisting. The family invites all of those attending to visit with the family in the parlor following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Greenville YMCA, 601 E. McBee Ave., Greenville, SC 29601 or to the charity of your choice. – Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown.