GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1989 SESSION
RATIFIED BILL
RESOLUTION 31
Whereas, John Raymond Shute, Jr., was born January 14, 1904, in Monroe, the only son of John Raymond Shute, Sr., and Kittie Summerset; and
Whereas, John Raymond Shute, Jr., was affectionately known as "J. Ray" all his life; and
Whereas, J. Ray Shute was educated in the Monroe public schools, graduated from the Georgia Military Academy in 1921, where he was 1st Lieutenant in the R.O.T.C. from 1920 until 1921, attended Trinity College in Durham from 1921 to 1924, and received a master's degree from Atlantic University; and
Whereas, J. Ray Shute married Sarah Mason of Durham in 1924 and from that union three children were born: John Raymond Shute III, Sarah Mason Shute Sommers and Joseph Kirkland Shute; and
Whereas, J. Ray Shute was a businessman and served in the capacities of president, chairman of the board, member of the board of directors, partner, and business manager of many businesses including the J.R. Shute Company, Shute Motors, Inc., United Airways of North Carolina, Monroe Investment, Inc., Union Aircraft Corp., Union Broadcasting Station, Union Laundry Service, Shute-Wilson Gin Company, Ellen Fitzgerald Hospital, Finance Corporation of America, Background Sound Systems, Inc., the Southern Regional Council, and the Monroe Full Fashion Hosiery Mill; and
Whereas, as a community leader, J. Ray Shute served Monroe as president of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, the Monroe Board of Trade, the Monroe Board of Realtors, the Monroe Lion's Club, the Monroe Executive Club, the Duke Alumni Association, and the Council on Human Relations; and
Whereas, J. Ray Shute served as mayor of Monroe for two terms, as president of the North Carolina League of Municipalities, and as State Director of the Federal Office of Price Stabilization; and
Whereas, J. Ray Shute worked to secure new industries for Union County and served as the first chairman of the Union County Industrial Development Commission; and
Whereas, J. Ray Shute worked towards the betterment of Union County and served the county in many capacities, including the first chairman of the Union County Library Board, chairman of the Union County Board of Education, and chairman of the Board of County Commissioners; and
Whereas, J. Ray Shute was also active as chairman of the Union County Chapter of the American Red Cross, as a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission, as a Star and Life Scout, as District Scout Commissioner, as a member of the Kiwanis Club, as a member of the Rotary Club, as chairman of the Board of Trustees of Union Memorial Hospital, and as a member of the Union County Board of Health; and
Whereas, J. Ray Shute served with distinction in the State Senate in 1935, where he was chairman of the State Library Committee that created the statewide library system; and
Whereas, J. Ray Shute was an editor, lecturer, and author of twenty published books; and
Whereas, J. Ray Shute was a member of the Board of Stewards of the Central Methodist Church, taught bible classes, sang in the choir, and served as District Lay Leader; and
Whereas, J. Ray Shute founded the Charlotte Unitarian Church and was Dean of All Souls Chapel in Monroe; and
Whereas, J. Ray Shute served as president of the Unitarian Layman League, as president of the Unitarian Fellowship for Social Justice, as president of the Colloquium on the Nature of Man, as a delegate to the International Humanist Association in Amsterdam in 1952, as a delegate to the International Association for Religious Freedom at Oxford University in England; and
Whereas, J. Ray Shute established Unitarian Fellowships throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico; and
Whereas, J. Ray Shute was a Mason, who served as head of all local Masonic organizations, and was a mason in several states and national and international organizations, and was honored by many; and
Whereas, as an amateur anthropologist, J. Ray Shute, along with his wife, visited 125 countries and islands, living with primitive tribes in such places as the Gobi Desert, Outer Mongolia, the Amazon Jungle, and Timbuktu; and
Whereas, J. Ray Shute worked to enhance the lives of those in his community, county, and State by securing industries, better education, hospitals, and other needed services; and
Whereas, the memory of J. Ray Shute will always be remembered by his loved ones and friends;
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
Section 1. The General Assembly wishes to honor the life and memory of John Raymond "J. Ray" Shute, Jr., for his outstanding service to his community, Union County, the State of North Carolina, and his fellow citizens.
Sec. 2. The General Assembly wishes to express its sympathy to the family and friends of John Raymond "J. Ray" Shute, Jr.
Sec. 3. The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of John Raymond "J. Ray" Shute, Jr.
Sec. 4. This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 28th day of July, 1989.
James C. Gardner
President of the Senate
J. L. Mavretic
Speaker of the House of Representatives