Joseph Frederick Corriher Jr.

Joseph Frederick Corriher, Jr. passed away peacefully at his home on October 31, 2022, surrounded by his loving family following a long battle with bladder cancer. Born on September 6, 1938, to Joseph Frederick Corriher Sr. and Mary Alexander Corriher in Landis, NC, he graduated from Landis High School in 1956 and from Catawba College in Salisbury, NC in 1960. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve on active duty from 1961-1962, then joined his family at Corriher Mills Company in Landis as a member of the Board of Directors and assistant corporate secretary, while working as director of alumni affairs at Catawba College from 1962-1964. He was honorably discharged from the Army Reserve in 1967. From 1964 until 1972, he was the assistant to the president and corporate secretary for Corriher Mills, and in 1972, he became the executive vice president of the Linn-Corriher Corporation, then its president and chief executive officer until 1981, at which time Dominion bought the mill. During that time in 1978, he was awarded Industrial Man of the Year by the Rowan County Industrial Management Club. In 1982, he established Corriher and Associates, a management consulting firm to the sales yarn industry, of which he was president until called upon to take the interim presidency of Catawba College, effective September 1, 1992. In addition to being a Catawba graduate and an active member of its Board of Trustees at the time the Board called on him to serve as interim president, Fred Corriher, Jr. had many other ties to Catawba College. His father J. Fred Corriher, Sr., was an alumnus. Both his father and his grandfather, Lotan Corriher, served as longtime members of the Board of Trustees of Catawba College before him. Lotan Corriher was instrumental in the move of Catawba College to Salisbury from its original location in Newton, NC. Some of Fred’s earliest memories were of visits to the Catawba campus in Salisbury with his grandfather. He earned his A.B. degree, majoring in sociology and graduating cum laude, and at graduation was awarded the Whitener Medal, Catawba’s highest student honor. Following graduation and in conjunction with his responsibilities at Corriher Mills, Fred was employed as the Director of Alumni Affairs at Catawba from 1962-1964. He remained involved at Catawba and would go on to serve on the Alumni Association Board of Directors, as a Chiefs Club member and board member, serving as its president, and on the Catawba College Board of Trustees from 1975 to 1993. He was Chair of that Board from 1984 to 1987. During those years, Catawba awarded him the O.B. Michael Award in 1979, an honorary doctorate of humanitarian services degree in 1984, and the Trustee Award for Outstanding Service to the College in 1992. His board service concluded only upon his being asked to become interim president of the College upon the unexpected passing of Dr. Stephen Wurster. Fred’s tireless dedication to and deep love of Catawba was evident, and Catawba’s presidential search committee soon decided that he met the requirements for a new president far better than any other candidates they considered. In 1993 they asked him to become Catawba’s 19th president officially. When he retired from the presidency in 2002, after 10 years of service, the Catawba College Board of Trustees honored him and his wife Bonnie with the prestigious Adrian L. Shuford Award in and at his retirement reception in 2002 he was awarded the Order of the Longleaf Pine Award, the highest civilian honor given by the State of North Carolina. He also received a proclamation from the City of Salisbury declaring April 16, 2002. J. Fred Corriher, Jr. Day, presented by Mayor Kluttz and from the City of Landis. In a life exemplified by service, as a Boy Scout, Fred earned the Eagle Scout award. He served as Secretary of the American Freedom Association, Inc, acting as tour director several years for an annual trip to speak at the United Nations in Washington, D.C. by high school students who were winners in a state-wide speaking competition sponsored by the Extension Division of the University of North Carolina. He was appointed in 1976 by NC Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. as a member of the North Carolina Secondary Roads Council, representing Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Rowan and Stokes counties and he served on the NC Center for Public Policy Research Board of Directors. In 1983, he was honored by WSOC-TV as one of “Nine Who Care”. In the 1980s he served on the South Rowan YMCA Board of Governors; it was named the J. Frederick Corriher, Jr. YMCA in recognition of his extraordinary fundraising efforts enabling it to be built. In 1985, he was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from YMCA of the USA, South and the Distinguished Preservation Award from the Elizabeth Maxwell Steele Chapter of the DAR. In 1994 he chaired the United Arts Fund campaign in Salisbury, NC. In 1995 he served as a volunteer in the Amigo friend/mentor program for sixth graders at North Rowan Middle School. A long time Rotarian, he was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. In addition, Fred chaired a successful $76.5 million bond referendum for the Rowan-Salisbury Schools in 2002. Active politically in the Democratic Party in Rowan County and beyond, he served as a delegate to the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. He was particularly involved in the campaigns of U.S. Congressman Bill Hefner, U.S. Senator and North Carolina Governor Terry Sanford, and North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt. In 1991 he was elected as a Town of Landis Alderman, where he served briefly, resigning upon accepting the presidency of Catawba College. A railroad buff, he initiated the first railroad museum in Rowan County located at the depot in Landis, NC, and later served on the NC Transportation History Corporation board of directors, and during that time helped to acquire and renovate the “Loretto”, a private rail car that had belonged to Charles Schwab for the NC Transportation Museum and the “Doris”, James B. Duke’s private 1917 Pullman car. As a wine collector and a Commandeur of the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin of Burgundy, France, he shared his passion for wine in wine appreciation classes he taught locally, at times as part of Catawba’s Homecoming activities for alumni. His knowledge of food and wine pairing was enjoyed by friends and family who had the great fortune to partake in the wonderful gourmet meals he loved to cook in his retirement years. He was a member of Mt. Zion United Church of Christ in China Grove, NC. He is predeceased by his parents, Joseph Frederick Corriher, Sr. and Mary Alexander and his Son-In-Law, R.T. Dickson. Left to cherish his memory are his brother Eugene of Landis, his wife Bonnie (née Lavonne Thompson), children Susan Corriher (Frankie Musselwhite) of Landis; Charlotte of Wilmington, NC; Frederick III (Lindsey) of Charleston, SC, Mary M. Dickson (the late R.T. Dickson) of Mooresville, NC and John Lotan (Allyson) of Charleston, SC; grandchildren Brandon Price of Landis, Ambria Barbee of Salisbury, and Leah Corriher of Charleston, SC and two more on the way; by niece Candie and nephew Alex, many cousins and friends, and by many members of his extended Catawba College family. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the J. Fred Sr., and Mary Corriher Endowed Scholarship Fund at Catawba College. A Service of Thanksgiving will be held Saturday, November 19, 2022, at 12 noon in the Omwake-Dearborn Chapel on the campus of Catawba College, with visitation following in the Peeler Crystal Lounge of the Robertson-College Community Center. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Corriher family, Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

Joseph Frederick Corriher Jr.

September 6, 1938 - October 31, 2022