GLEN RAVEN, N.C. — July 27, 2010 — Roger Gant, Jr., who served as President of Glen Raven, Inc.
from 1972 to 1989, has died at the age of 86. Mr. Gant served the company in a variety of
management positions and as President and Board Member for 55 years. He also led the Glen Raven
team that created Glen Raven’s Sunbrella® brand of performance fabrics in the early 1960s.
“It was my good fortune to have Roger as a wise and patient mentor,” said Glen Raven
President and CEO Allen E. Gant, Jr. “As is true for many Glen Raven associates, Roger not only
taught me the principles of good business, but also the value of family, community and people. He
was a good and faithful steward of our company and set us on a solid course that is sustaining even
today.
“Our family and all Glen Raven associates are greatly saddened by Roger’s death. He was an
inspiring leader, a dedicated husband and father and one of the brightest and most compassionate
individuals you could ever care to meet. The world is a better place because Roger was here, and we
will miss him greatly.”
Roger Gant, Jr. was born on May 9, 1924 in Alamance County, a second generation descendent of
John Q. Gant, the founder of Glen Raven, Inc., where Mr. Gant devoted his professional career.
Mr. Gant attended public schools in Alamance County and served with the U.S. Army during
World War II, receiving decorations for meritorious service. After the War, Mr. Gant returned to
North Carolina where he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He met his
wife, Rose Anne, while attending college and they returned to Alamance County where they raised
three children, Anne, Alice, and Roger III.
Following graduation from UNC, Mr. Gant joined Glen Raven on October 1, 1948 and held a
variety of positions culminating in president in 1972, a position he held until his retirement from
management in 1989. Mr. Gant also served as a Glen Raven director, beginning with his first
appointment on May 1, 1946. He continued to serve as a director for 55 years until his retirement
from the board on June 7, 2001 and became Director Emeritus.
Mr. Gant was an innovative leader during his many years of service as a manager and director
with Glen Raven. He fostered countless technical, financial and process improvements throughout the
company while also encouraging the professional development of Glen Raven associates through
continuing education.
Under Mr. Gant’s leadership, Glen Raven’s sales more than quintupled and sales per employee
more than doubled. One of Mr. Gant’s most important achievements for Glen Raven was the
introduction of synthetic awning fabrics and creation of the Sunbrella® brand beginning in 1961.
Sunbrella is today one of the world’s leading performance fabrics brands, recognized as the market
leader for awnings, boating and furniture.
Not only did Mr. Gant foster innovation within Glen Raven, he also championed progressive
thinking throughout the textile industry. Under his leadership, the company provided support for
educational programs at N.C. State University, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and
Institute of Textile Technology. In recognition of his support for the performance fabrics
industry, Mr. Gant received a lifetime achievement award from the Industrial Fabrics Association
International.
Mr. Gant was also a community leader, involved in numerous nonprofit organizations including
Boy Scouts, Alamance Arts Council, his church and diocese, YMCA, United Way and Salvation Army. He
also served as a trustee for Elon College, now Elon University and community advisor for Wachovia
Bank.
Posted on July 27, 2010
Press Release Courtesy of Glen Raven Inc.
