Ralph Sullivan

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Captain Ralph Sullivan served in the United States Army in World War II
Service started: 1942
Unit(s): 124th Infantry;31st Infantry
Service ended: 1946

Biography

Ralph was born in 1921 at Gaffney, South Carolina.. Ralph graduated from Gaffney High School in 1938, received his B.S. degree in Textile Engineering from Clemson University in 1942, and graduated from the Executive Program of UNC Chapel Hill, NC, in 1968.

He entered the US Army in 1942 and served in the 124th Infantry, 31st Infantry Division in WWII fighting in multiple operations in the Pacific Theater. He was the recipient of the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantry Badge, and other medals including the Philippine Liberation Medal. He separated from active duty in 1946 with the rank of Captain. He then served in the Officers Reserve Corp in various capacities until 1953.

Ralph began his textile career with J.P. Stevens & Co, Inc. in Slater, South Carolina. and later in Stanley, North Carolina for 22 years. In 1968 he was transferred to Shelby, North Carolina, where he later became General Manager of seven J.P. Stevens Textile Plants throughout the southeast until his retirement.

While in Stanley, Ralph was active in Bruington Memorial Baptist Church and many civic organizations including Lions Club (President), the Stanley Chapter of Boy Scouts, Chairman of the Stanley School Advisory Committee, and the Gaston County Red Cross.

In Shelby, he was active in various activities at First Baptist Church, was on the Shelby Boys’ Club Board of Directors, was a former Kiwanian, and a member of the Shelby Lions Club. As a Lions Club member, he held several offices and was a “Melvin Jones Fellow,” a “Jack Stickley Fellow” and twice “Lion of the Year.” He was one of the founders and advisors of the Lions Senior Village and former Chairman of their Board of Trustees. He also chaired their Commodities Distribution Center Committee. He served on the Shelby Appearance Committee, Uptown Shelby Board of Directors, and the Board of Trustees of the NC Vocational Textile School in Belmont, NC.

He passed away November 5, 2023 at the age of 102.

Sources

• First-hand information. Entered by Ralph Sullivan at registration.
• First-hand information from his son Dan Sullivan.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49791594/ralph-sullivan: accessed 07 November 2023), memorial page for Ralph Sullivan (12 Sep 1921–5 Nov 2023), Find a Grave Memorial ID 49791594, citing Oakland Cemetery, Gaffney, Cherokee County, South Carolina, USA; Maintained by Keith and Linda Sims Robertson (contributor 46970718).