Robert H. Bolton

Robert Harvey Bolton (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.

Early life

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 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 the staff of 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 presented Bolton with a Lifetime Achievement Award, the first ever given by the group.

Bolton served in the United States Navy as a lieutenant during World War II.

Career and community involvement

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. 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 Club. 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 late Elizabeth Brown. After her death, he married Gail Goodwin Bolton (born 1918), who survived him. Other survivors were 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 in Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville.

ee also

References

http://www.psiu.org/fr/memoriamarchive.html#bolton

Bolton obituary, Alexandria Daily Town Talk, July 16, 2003