Robert H. Bolton
Encyclopedia
Robert Harvey Bolton, Sr. (June 19, 1908—July 15, 2003), was a prominent banker, civic leader, and Baptist
layman in Alexandria
, the seat of Rapides Parish, in central Louisiana
.
and the former Mary Esther Calderwood. In the 1980s, this house was donated to the city of Alexandria as a center for contemporary regional arts and crafts
.
Robert Bolton graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
in Philadelphia
in 1930, as did his older banker-brother James Calderwood Bolton
. Thereafter, he joined the staff of the Guaranty Trust Bank in New York City
.
He returned to Alexandria to join his father's Rapides Bank and Trust Co. (later part of Bank One Corporation
). In time, he became the bank president, chairman, and senior chairman. In April 2000, the Louisiana Banker's Association, of which Bolton was the president from 1950–1951, presented the Alexandrian with its first ever Lifetime Achievement Award.
Bolton served in the United States Navy
as a lieutenant
during World War II
.
s, chairman of the trustees, and Sunday school teacher and superintendent. He was a trustee for the Louisiana Baptist Foundation and the Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College
in Pineville
, across the Red River from Alexandria. In addition he was a president of the trustees of the Baptist Hospital (later Rapides General Hospital) in downtown Alexandria. In 2001, Bolton received the W. L. "Bill" May Christian Businessman Award.
Bolton was an active member of the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce
, the Masonic Lodge
, the Alexandria Museum of Art, and the Alexandria Downtown Rotary International
. In February 2003, Bolton was honored as the Outstanding Rotarian of the 20th Century. He was a member of the Krewe of Parlangua in Alexandria, the Boston Club, and the Bienville Club of New Orleans.
organized the series for the Historical Association of Central Louisiana. After Peggy's death, Bolton wed the former Gail Goodwin (born 1918), who survives him. Other survivors are one son, Robert Harvey Bolton, Jr., and wife Martha Brandt Bolton (born 1943) of Princeton, New Jersey
; two daughters, Elizabeth Bolton Hassinger (born 1942) and husband Robert Conery Hassinger (born 1941) of New Orleans and Mary Bolton Jennings (born 1943) and husband James Kelly Jennings, Jr. (born 1941), of Houston
, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Bolton was an uncle
of Frances Bolton Davis (born 1928), wife of the Alexandria orthopedic surgeon Dr. Paul M. Davis, Jr. (1919–2007).
Bolton is interred at Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville
.
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
layman in Alexandria
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
, the seat of Rapides Parish, in central Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
.
Early life
Bolton was born in Alexandria in the parlor of River Oaks, the home of his parents, James Wade BoltonJames W. Bolton
James Wade Bolton was a prominent banker, civic leader, and school board president in Alexandria, the seat of Rapides Parish and the largest city in central Louisiana. Bolton High School in Alexandria is named in his honor. He was president of the Rapides Bank and Trust Company in Alexandria from...
and the former Mary Esther Calderwood. In the 1980s, this house was donated to the city of Alexandria as a center for contemporary regional arts and crafts
Arts and crafts
Arts and crafts comprise a whole host of activities and hobbies that are related to making things with one's hands and skill. These can be sub-divided into handicrafts or "traditional crafts" and "the rest"...
.
Robert Bolton graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
in 1930, as did his older banker-brother James Calderwood Bolton
James C. Bolton
James Calderwood Bolton was a prominent banker, civic leader, and Baptist layman in Alexandria, the seat of Rapides Parish and the largest city in central Louisiana.-Early life and career:...
. Thereafter, he joined the staff of the Guaranty Trust Bank in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
He returned to Alexandria to join his father's Rapides Bank and Trust Co. (later part of Bank One Corporation
Bank One Corporation
Some of the banks that were merged into these banks include:*Bank One**Security National Bank & Trust **Affiliated Bankshares of Colorado **American Fletcher Corp. **City National Bank and Trust Co...
). In time, he became the bank president, chairman, and senior chairman. In April 2000, the Louisiana Banker's Association, of which Bolton was the president from 1950–1951, presented the Alexandrian with its first ever Lifetime Achievement Award.
Bolton served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Career and community involvement
He was active in the large Emmanuel Baptist Church in downtown Alexandria, where he served as chairman of the deaconDeacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
s, chairman of the trustees, and Sunday school teacher and superintendent. He was a trustee for the Louisiana Baptist Foundation and the Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College
Louisiana College
Louisiana College is a private institution of higher education located in Pineville, Louisiana, affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist Convention, serving a student body of approximately 1,300 students. The college operates on a semester system, with two shorter summer terms...
in Pineville
Pineville, Louisiana
Pineville is a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is adjacent to the city of Alexandria, and is part of that city's Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,829 at the 2000 census....
, across the Red River from Alexandria. In addition he was a president of the trustees of the Baptist Hospital (later Rapides General Hospital) in downtown Alexandria. In 2001, Bolton received the W. L. "Bill" May Christian Businessman Award.
Bolton was an active member of the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, the Masonic Lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
, the Alexandria Museum of Art, and the Alexandria Downtown Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
. In February 2003, Bolton was honored as the Outstanding Rotarian of the 20th Century. He was a member of the Krewe of Parlangua in Alexandria, the Boston Club, and the Bienville Club of New Orleans.
Personal life
Robert H. Bolton was married for forty-eight years to the former Elizabeth "Peggy" McClundie Brown, for whom the Peggy Bolton Lecture Series is named. The psychologist George E. HearnGeorge E. Hearn
George Earl Hearn was from 1965-2000 a professor of psychology at Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana, and a former two-term member of the Pineville City Council under then Mayor Fred H. Baden.-Background:Hearn was born to Thomas Watson Hearn, Sr...
organized the series for the Historical Association of Central Louisiana. After Peggy's death, Bolton wed the former Gail Goodwin (born 1918), who survives him. Other survivors are one son, Robert Harvey Bolton, Jr., and wife Martha Brandt Bolton (born 1943) of Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
; two daughters, Elizabeth Bolton Hassinger (born 1942) and husband Robert Conery Hassinger (born 1941) of New Orleans and Mary Bolton Jennings (born 1943) and husband James Kelly Jennings, Jr. (born 1941), of Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Bolton was an uncle
Uncle
An uncle is a type of familial relationship.Uncle may also refer to:* Uncle , by J. P. Martin* U.N.C.L.E., a fictional organization in the TV series The Man from U.N.C.L.E....
of Frances Bolton Davis (born 1928), wife of the Alexandria orthopedic surgeon Dr. Paul M. Davis, Jr. (1919–2007).
Pineville, Louisiana
Pineville is a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is adjacent to the city of Alexandria, and is part of that city's Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,829 at the 2000 census....
.