The Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau announced effective July 1, Gene Minton has taken the helm as chairman of the Board of Directors.
In so doing, however, the staff and board said farewell to immediate Past Chair Jim Frazier, who served the board for two three-year terms.
A native of Warren County, Frazier has been married to wife Lelia for 45 years, has two children, James and Trish, and two grandchildren, Parker and Karleigh. He is an elder at First Presbyterian Church of Roanoke Rapids. Frazier initially lived in Roanoke Rapids from 1973-75, then returned in 1985 as the Southern Division Vice-President of Dominion North Carolina Power.
Frazier has been a volunteer with a great number of significant community projects since 1985. He chaired the Roanoke Rapids Library fundraising committee, which raised money to build the new library wing. He also served as the chairman of the Centennial Committee that organized a gala, parade and fireworks in 1997 to celebrate Roanoke Rapids' 100th birthday. He also worked with the help of others to raise funds for the Centennial Park sidewalk, benches and clock through a brick campaign. Frazier has spent the last ten years as the co-chairman of the Roanoke Canal Museum Committee and worked closely with countless other committee members and volunteers to open the Roanoke Canal Museum in 2005. He also serves on the Roanoke Canal Commission, Inc., which maintains the Roanoke Canal Trail.
“We can’t thank Jim enough for the time, energy, creativity and integrity he has brought to our board. He will be truly missed,” said Lori Medlin, Halifax County CVB President/CEO.
Gene Minton has served on the board of directors for the Halifax County CVB since 2005. He is active in many national, state, and local political organizations, serving as a Commissioner and past chairman for Halifax County, as well as former mayor and city councilman for Roanoke Rapids. He is also a platinum member and serves on the board for Halifax Horizons.
In addition to his political service, Gene maintains memberships in NC Association of Pharmacies and NC Pharmaceutical Association and operates three pharmacies in Northeastern North Carolina which offer full service Pharmacy, DME, and Respiratory. He also serves on the NC Board of Pharmacy. Gene is a 1975 graduate of the UNC School of Pharmacy who started out his pharmacy career as an intern with Kerr Drugs in the Raleigh area during school. This early training during school was a great vehicle that developed a true admiration and appreciation of the pharmacists with whom he worked and the many patients and customers that came into the practice area. Gene was one of the founders of the Association of Community Pharmacists and served as Chairman and Vice Chairman of this group. In September of 2007, he received the Bowl of Hygeia award for Community Service to Pharmacy.
Gene and his wife Sybil live at Lake Gaston and have two children, Jeanie and Jenna, who are both pharmacists, and one grandson. Many people don't know that Gene was the North Carolina State Waterskiing Champion in 1977. Currently, he breeds and shows quarter horses and competes in reining competitions. Originally from Roxabel in Bertie County, Gene is an asset to the tourism board and Halifax County as a whole.
“I am committed to the CVB’s continuing to do the job it was created for. Jim Frazier has been a strong leader, and we will continue to do a good job of growing tourism in Halifax County,” said Minton.
“We are ready to move forward with Gene at the helm of our organization,” said Medlin. “We are ready to work even harder to grow our industry with his leadership and ingenuity.”
