Robert Harvey Bolton, Senior, was a prominent banker, civic leader, and Southern Baptist layman in Alexandria, the seat of Rapides Parish in Central Louisiana.
Background
Bolton was born in Alexandria in the parlor of River Oaks, the home of his parents, James Wade Bolton and the former Mary Esther Calderwood. He returned to Alexandria to join his grandfather"s and his father"s Rapides Bank and Trust Company (later part of Bank One Corporation).
Education
Robert Bolton graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in 1930, as had his older banker-brother James Calderwood Bolton.
Career
In the 1980s, this house was donated to the city of Alexandria as a center for contemporary regional arts and crafts. Thereafter, he joined the staff of the Guaranty Trust Bank in New York City. In time, he became the bank president, chairman, and senior chairman. served in the United States Navy as a lieutenant during World World War World War II He was active in the large Emmanuel Baptist Church in downtown Alexandria, where he served as chairman of the deacons, 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.
He was a president of the trustees of the Baptist Hospital (later Rapides General Hospital) in downtown Alexandria. In February 2003, was honored as the "Outstanding Rotarian of the 20th Century".
Membership
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. He was a member of the Krewe of Parlangua in Alexandria, the Boston Club, and the Bienville Club of New Orleans.