Graham, Fred B., 1906-2000
Dates
- Existence: 1906-03-02-2000-04-12- 1906 March 02 - 2000 April 12 - 2000-04-12
Biography
Frederick Bolles Graham was born on March 2, 1906 in Wallace, North Carolina to Dr. Benjamin R. and Edith B. Graham. He moved to Wilmington with his parents in 1915 and was a 1925 graduate of New Hanover High School. Graham attended UNC Chapel Hill, graduating with a degree in commerce in 1928. He was also a 1948 graduate of the Stonier School of Banking at Rutgers University.
Graham worked at the Wilmington Savings and Trust Company where he started as a bookkeeper and eventually became President. After the bank's merger with Wachovia Bank and Trust Company, he was named Senior Vice President, a position he held until his retirement in 1968.
Graham played an instrumental role in the development of Wilmington College and was a member of the original Board of Trustees (1958-1969). He served as Chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee and was instrumental in establishing the unique Georgian architectural style of campus buildings that is still used at UNCW today. In recognition of his work, a residence hall was named for him in 1985.
Graham served as a town alderman for Wrightsville Beach in the 1940s and chairman of the New Hanover County Tree Commission. He was involved in the economic development of the region and was a member of the SENCLand Development Association in the 1950s. The Wilmington Star-News named him Citizen of the Year in 1960.
He married Katherine Carr and the couple had two sons and one daughter. Fred Graham died on April 12, 2000 and is buried in Oakdale Cemetery.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Fred B. Graham Papers
This collection contains years of written records, including minutes of Trustee meetings, personal and Executive Committee correspondence, news clippings, concerning Wilmington College, and the transition to University status. Mr. Graham held the important position of Chairman, Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of Wilmington College.