Dalton man receives Reinhardt award

Published 10:19 pm Sunday, October 14, 2007

Robert L. “Bob” McEntire of Dalton received the Alumnus of the Year Award during the Reinhardt College Alumni Day recently.

“It’s very meaningful to receive an award like this,” said McEntire, who graduated in 1962 from the college in Waleska. “I’m glad to have attended Reinhardt, and I can’t think of too many things in my life that I reflect back on over the years that have been as meaningful as attending Reinhardt. It’s always been a very important institution in my life.”

The Alumnus of the Year is selected for his or her personal and/or professional achievements. The award is based on an individual being distinguished in his of her business or professional career; for community service; for exhibiting exemplary faithfulness to Reinhardt; for demonstrated spirit of Reinhardt; and for demonstrated faith and moral character.

A native of Murray County, McEntire attended Reinhardt in 1961 and 1962. He is a member of the Dalton Golf and Country Club and attends Rock Bridge Community Church.

McEntire is a former Reinhardt trustee and member of the Dalton Elks Lodge. He and his wife, Jackie, have two children, Chad and Heather, and three granddaughters.

Several years ago, McEntire began a housing company in Nicaragua. He interacted with young people who wanted to come to America to attend college. For some of those aspiring students, he made arrangements with their families, brought them to Reinhardt, and helped pay their tuition, room, board and living expenses.

McEntire began his career in the carpet business in 1972 as owner of Cumberland Carpets. Twenty years later, he started in his current position of owner/president of Extruded Fibers Inc., a yarn extrusion business.

Thomas W. “Tom” Carter, a native of Loganville who graduated in 1961, received the Alumni Loyalty Award. The recipient of the Alumni Loyalty Award is chosen for his or her personal and financial support of the college.

Carter serves as a director for the National Bank of Walton County and is a present member and former chairman of the Walton County Foundation. He has been an active member of Reinhardt’s Board of Trustees since 2004.