J. Floyd Fletcher, founder of Durham's WTIK, co-founder of WTVD 11, son of WRAL founder A.J. Fletcher, dead at 90
Obituary from the Durham Herald-Sun...
FLETCHER
DURHAM - James Floyd Fletcher, 90, died on December 7, 2005, at Hillcrest Convalescent Center following a lengthy illness. Born in Fuquay Springs, in 1915, he was one of four children of the late A. J. Fletcher and Elizabeth Utley Fletcher. He was educated in the Raleigh city schools, graduated from Wake Forest College in 1934 and received a master’s degree in Economics from the University of North Carolina in 1937. Following graduation he worked for the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation as a statistician and analyst. In 1943 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a supply officer on the destroyer escort USS Duffy in the Pacific until he was discharged in 1946.
He moved to Durham in 1946 and constructed and operated radio station WTIK until 1954 when he and his business partner, Harmon Duncan, began the operation of the first television station in the area, WTVD. He worked as general manager at WTVD for many years. In 1957 the television station became a part of the group eventually known as Capital Cities Broadcasting Corporation, and he served as Vice President and Director of Capital Cities Broadcasting until his retirement. In 1989 he was inducted into the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
An active member of numerous civic organizations in Durham, he was President of the Durham Chamber of Commerce and recipient of that group’s Civic Honor Award. He was President of the Durham Kiwanis Club and was honored as their Man of the Year. As a member of the Jaycees, he was named their Young Man of the Year. He headed the Community Planning Council and the Durham United Way. He was President and Director of the Community Chest and the North Carolina Symphony. He chaired the YMCA Building Fund Drive and was vice chair of the Durham Centennial Commission. He was active in the Committee of 100, a group of Durham business leaders who were instrumental in establishing the Durham Industrial Park and the Durham Community College.
He served for twelve years on the Durham City Council and was one of the founding members of Durham Homes, a corporation formed to provide quality low cost homes in Durham. In 1974 he headed Durham Citizens for One Government, the group supporting merger of Durham’s city and county governments.
In recent years he was active in the formation and development of the Triangle Community Foundation and at his death was Director Emeritus. He also devoted hundreds of hours to the Duke Children’s Classic.
A passionate advocate for his college, he was a member and president of the Board of Visitors for the undergraduate college at Wake Forest University and a member of the Board of Trustees. He received Wake Forest’s Distinguished Alumni Service Citation in 1986 and at his death was an Honorary Lifetime Trustee of the University.
Floyd Fletcher was a pillar of the Watts Street Baptist Church, providing leadership as Chair of the Board of Deacons and Stewardship Committee and coordinating the Men’s Seminar Class.
Floyd was known to his family and friends as generous and selfless, kind and humble, dignified but down-to-earth, modest and self-effacing. He always enjoyed a round of golf, traveling, and spending time with his family.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Bobbie Moore Fletcher.
He is survived by his wife, Jean Dula Fletcher; his children Barbara Fletcher of Bethesda, Md.; Betsy Barnett, of Washington, D.C.; Jim Fletcher, of Greensboro; Susan and David Leistiko, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Jeff Wright, of Greensboro; his grandchildren Jordan Barnett, of Philadelphia, Pa.; Andrew Fletcher, of Davidson; Ellen Fletcher Farley, of Morrisville; Whitney Barnett Paxson, of Oxford, Pa.; Barbara Hale Barnett, of Washington, D.C.; Elizabeth Fletcher, of Greensboro, and Sydney and Lily Leistiko, of Scottsdale, Arizona; one great-grandchild William Walter Paxson of Oxford, PA, and six nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 10, 2005, at 2 p.m. at Watts Street Baptist Church. Officiating will be the Rev. Melvin Williams. Inurnment will be private.
The family will receive visitors Friday evening, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Howerton & Bryan Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Triangle Community Foundation, PO Box 12834, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
The Fletcher family is under the care of Howerton & Bryan Funeral Home.
Obituary from the Durham Herald-Sun...
FLETCHER
DURHAM - James Floyd Fletcher, 90, died on December 7, 2005, at Hillcrest Convalescent Center following a lengthy illness. Born in Fuquay Springs, in 1915, he was one of four children of the late A. J. Fletcher and Elizabeth Utley Fletcher. He was educated in the Raleigh city schools, graduated from Wake Forest College in 1934 and received a master’s degree in Economics from the University of North Carolina in 1937. Following graduation he worked for the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation as a statistician and analyst. In 1943 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a supply officer on the destroyer escort USS Duffy in the Pacific until he was discharged in 1946.
He moved to Durham in 1946 and constructed and operated radio station WTIK until 1954 when he and his business partner, Harmon Duncan, began the operation of the first television station in the area, WTVD. He worked as general manager at WTVD for many years. In 1957 the television station became a part of the group eventually known as Capital Cities Broadcasting Corporation, and he served as Vice President and Director of Capital Cities Broadcasting until his retirement. In 1989 he was inducted into the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
An active member of numerous civic organizations in Durham, he was President of the Durham Chamber of Commerce and recipient of that group’s Civic Honor Award. He was President of the Durham Kiwanis Club and was honored as their Man of the Year. As a member of the Jaycees, he was named their Young Man of the Year. He headed the Community Planning Council and the Durham United Way. He was President and Director of the Community Chest and the North Carolina Symphony. He chaired the YMCA Building Fund Drive and was vice chair of the Durham Centennial Commission. He was active in the Committee of 100, a group of Durham business leaders who were instrumental in establishing the Durham Industrial Park and the Durham Community College.
He served for twelve years on the Durham City Council and was one of the founding members of Durham Homes, a corporation formed to provide quality low cost homes in Durham. In 1974 he headed Durham Citizens for One Government, the group supporting merger of Durham’s city and county governments.
In recent years he was active in the formation and development of the Triangle Community Foundation and at his death was Director Emeritus. He also devoted hundreds of hours to the Duke Children’s Classic.
A passionate advocate for his college, he was a member and president of the Board of Visitors for the undergraduate college at Wake Forest University and a member of the Board of Trustees. He received Wake Forest’s Distinguished Alumni Service Citation in 1986 and at his death was an Honorary Lifetime Trustee of the University.
Floyd Fletcher was a pillar of the Watts Street Baptist Church, providing leadership as Chair of the Board of Deacons and Stewardship Committee and coordinating the Men’s Seminar Class.
Floyd was known to his family and friends as generous and selfless, kind and humble, dignified but down-to-earth, modest and self-effacing. He always enjoyed a round of golf, traveling, and spending time with his family.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Bobbie Moore Fletcher.
He is survived by his wife, Jean Dula Fletcher; his children Barbara Fletcher of Bethesda, Md.; Betsy Barnett, of Washington, D.C.; Jim Fletcher, of Greensboro; Susan and David Leistiko, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Jeff Wright, of Greensboro; his grandchildren Jordan Barnett, of Philadelphia, Pa.; Andrew Fletcher, of Davidson; Ellen Fletcher Farley, of Morrisville; Whitney Barnett Paxson, of Oxford, Pa.; Barbara Hale Barnett, of Washington, D.C.; Elizabeth Fletcher, of Greensboro, and Sydney and Lily Leistiko, of Scottsdale, Arizona; one great-grandchild William Walter Paxson of Oxford, PA, and six nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 10, 2005, at 2 p.m. at Watts Street Baptist Church. Officiating will be the Rev. Melvin Williams. Inurnment will be private.
The family will receive visitors Friday evening, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Howerton & Bryan Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Triangle Community Foundation, PO Box 12834, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
The Fletcher family is under the care of Howerton & Bryan Funeral Home.