Charles M. Snipes School of Business named; Mauney-Schaeffer
Halls scheduled for renovation
Charles M. Snipes ’58 was
completely surprised when he learned April 26, 2002, that Lenoir-Rhyne College was
naming its School of Business in his honor. Snipes, who is an L-R trustee
and president of the Bank of Granite, is the first person in the history of
the College to have a school named in his honor.
John A. Forlines Jr., chairman and CEO of the Bank of Granite, is leading
the fund-raising effort in Snipes’ honor. Friends and colleagues from across
the state and beyond have contributed to make this project a reality.
Because so many people were involved, it was difficult to keep it a secret,
according to Teri Lemons, vice president for institutional advancement.
However, it was worth the effort to see Snipes’ reaction when she, Forlines
and Dr. Ryan LaHurd met with Snipes earlier that afternoon to break the
news. Snipes said he was humbled and honored by the naming.
 The
Charles M. Snipes School of Business will be located in the soon-to-be
renovated Mauney-Schaeffer Hall, which will also house a new Conference
Center for the campus community and its Business Council members. The
College plans to renovate the building during the 2002-2003 academic year.
Lemons said: “We think this is a fitting tribute since Charles has been very
supportive of the College’s Business Council, along with numerous other
College programs. He was a charter member of the Lenoir-Rhyne Business
Council Board and in 1991 was named Business Leader of the Year by the
council.”
The Mauney-Schaeffer
renovation plans call for creation of a Conference Center, state-of-the-art
meeting facilities and lodging accommodations as well as access to the
College’s Career Center. A Business Council Board Room will recognize the
importance and contributions made to the College by its board of directors
and membership.
“These enhanced facilities will be a major new benefit to members of the
College’s Business Council,” Lemons said. The Lenoir-Rhyne College Business
Council, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, consists of more
than 100 companies and foundations whose annual unrestricted support or
pledge is $1,000 or more.
After renovation, the building will also house the School of Computing
Science and Mathematics as well as the School of Social and Behavioral
Sciences.
Mauney Hall was built in
1927 as a women’s dormitory. It was named after Jacob S. and Andrew Mauney,
two brothers who each gave $25,000 toward the construction costs. The Mauney
Hall Annex was opened in 1942. It was renamed Schaeffer Hall in 1951 in
honor of the College’s fourth president, H. Brent Schaeffer. These
buildings, located on the Quad at Lenoir-Rhyne, served as residence halls
until recent years. Remodeling them to serve as classroom and office space
is in keeping with the College’s master plan to have such buildings near the
center of the campus.
Snipes is a native of
Lincolnton who came to L-R after serving in the Army three years. Upon
graduation, he entered the management training program of First National
Bank. There, he rose through the ranks, advancing to senior vice president
and city executive in 1970. In 1981, First National merged with First Union
National Bank, at which time Snipes became senior vice president of First
Union. In 1982, he was promoted to regional executive of First Union.
Soon afterward, he left that bank and joined the Bank of Granite as
executive vice president. He also served Bank of Granite as chief
administrative officer and a member of the board of directors. In 1987, he
was named bank president.
In addition to his
education at L-R, Snipes graduated from the Carolina School of Banking at
the University of North Carolina in 1965 and from the Stonier Graduate
School of Banking at Rutgers University in 1968.
Over the years, Snipes has been an active volunteer with Lenoir-Rhyne
College and other community organizations. He has been on almost every
Lenoir-Rhyne College board and is currently serving his 16th year on
the L-R Board of Trustees.
He is also a charter member of the President’s Society, which comprises
persons, corporations and foundations who believe so strongly in the mission
of the College that they donate an annual gift of $1,000 or more for current
operations. Snipes is also a member of L-R’s Founders Society, established
in 1995 to recognize the College’s major supporters whose cumulative giving
since 1960 exceeds $10,000.
He is a charter member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, which he has
served in many leadership roles. He has received numerous awards throughout
the years for his civic contributions.
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