ELON COLLEGE – The Gant family, who founded and manage Glen Raven Mills, received the Frank S. Holt Jr. Business leadership award during a special luncheon on May 10.
The award was established at the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business at Elon College to recognize a local citizen whose contributions to business and the community reflect the same progressive, visionary leadership exemplified by award’s namesake. The late Frank S. Holt Jr. was president of Holt Manufacturing Co. and an active civic leader.
Glen Raven has been owned and led by four generations of the Gant family. John G. Gant founded the company in 1880. In 1920, his sons, Roger Sr. and Allen Sr. took over management of the mill. Roger Gant Sr. served as president until 1955 when Allen E. Gant Sr. assumed the role.
Following their deaths, the third generation of Gants assumed responsibility for the company. Roger Gant Jr. served as president and chairman of the board from 1972-1989. He currently serves as chairman of Glen Raven’s executive committee and is a trustee emeritus at Elon. Serving as fifth president of the company is Allen E. Gant Jr., an Elon trustee and a former member of the college’s board of visitors. Edmund R. Gant Jr., who also is an Elon trustee, is chairman of the board at Glen Raven.
The company has demonstrated its dedication to community service, donating land to Habitat for Humanity and shipping supplies to victims of Hurricane Andrew. It also recognizes the importance of educating future generations by establishing technology labs at area schools.
The previous recipients are Ralph M. Holt Jr., D. Earl Pardue, Dr. James D. Powell, Ernest A. Koury, a 1940 Elon alumnus, Maurice J. Koury, J. Harold Smith, James W. Maynard and C. Avery Thomas.
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