Background
Copeland, John Wesley was born on August 19, 1935 in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Son of Wade Dunlap and Gladys (Brigman) Copeland.
Copeland, John Wesley was born on August 19, 1935 in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Son of Wade Dunlap and Gladys (Brigman) Copeland.
Bachelor of Science, North Carolina State University, 1957. Master of Business Administration, University North Carolina, 1960.
Marketing manager, Carlton Inc., Cerryville-Salisbury, North Carolina, 1960-1964; executive vice president, Delta Thread division (Carlton Inc.), Salisbury, 1964-1970; president, Delta Thread division, Salisbury, 1970-1977; chairman, Piedmont Mill Supply, Salisbury, 1978-1979; executive vice president, American and Efird Mills Inc., Mount Holly, North Carolina, 1979-1984; president, American and Efird Mills Inc., 1984-1994; director, American and Efird Mills Inc., since 1979; president, Ruddick Corporation, Charlotte, North Carolina, since 1994. Board directors Cym Corporation, Salisbury, Piedmont Mill Supply, Copeland Business Service Inc., Gastonia, North Carolina, First Union National Bank, Gastonia, RuddickCorp.
Chairman fund raising committee North Carolina Heart Association, Chapel Hill, 1966. President Salisbury Rowan Young Men’s Christian Association, 1977. Chairman Rowan Republican Committee, Salisbury, 1964-1965, Thread Institute, 1977.
Board advisors First Union Bank, since 1984, Belmont Abbey College, since 1987. Trustee Belmont Textile School, since 1988. Served to 1st lieutenant United States Army, 1957-1959.
Member North Carolina Textile Manufacturers Association (president 1989, executive committee since 1986), American Yarn Spinners Association (president since 1991), Gaston County Chamber of C. Clubs: Gaston (Gastonia).
Married Ann Frost, September 28, 1935. Children: Ann Shelton, John Wesley.