Another Duggins Boy Passes-Philanthropist Bodie Bodenheimer

[asu66]

This is a late and sad news report that was just called to my attention. I don't recall it being posted here on the MMB or on AppStateSports.com, so here goes. All of us--every ASU alum who graduated since the late 50s have benefitted in many ways from the philanthropy of Bodie Bodenheimer, the late president emeritus of First Citizens Bankshares, Inc. Bodie Bodenheimer was a mover and shaker, a powerful businessman, a fine gentleman with a generous heart and above all an AppState Mountaineer. A list of his contributions of time, talent and financial resources to his Alma Mater would take all day to compile--and still come up short. Bodie will be missed; but his spirit and his generosity will not be forgotten.

RIP, Bodie Bodenheimer


Former Appalachian State football player dies
By Steve Behr sports@wataugademocrat.com | Posted 3 weeks ago

Former Appalachian State football player, and longtime philanthropist and businessman, Furman P. “Bodie” Bodenheimer Jr., died in Asheville on June 19.

He was 85.

Bodenheimer played center and linebacker for Appalachian State Teachers College in 1951. He was a member of the “Duggins Boys,” a group of players who played for former Appalachian State Teachers College coach E.C. Duggins, and who still meet at least once each season for a special lunch before the first home game.

Duggins coached at Appalachian State from 1947-55.

“He was a good student and he had a good relationship with players and with the general student body,” former college teammate and Duggins Boy Jack Groce said. “He was just a good individual.”

Gerald Adams, who is the current Yosef Club director and also a member of the Duggins Boys, said Bodenheimer’s generosity toward the university has led to 11 scholarships and support endowments for students attending Appalachian State, many of the endowments named in honor of his friends.

“We still meet about once a year, this whole group,” Adams said. “Through the years, (Bodenheimer) has given a lot of endowment scholarships in those boys’ names.”

“We’ve been fortunate,” Groce said. “It’s a group that Lester Hardin started. He and his wife, Kate Hardin, always invited all the Duggins Boys who played for E.C. Duggins. Lester and Kate invited them to their home for a cookout and for fellowship. They did that for a number of years and after Lester passed away, the chancellor took up the cause and chancellor (Kenneth) Peacock continued that. Even our new chancellor (Sheri Everts) continued it last year.”

Adams also said that Bodenheimer helped finance the road that goes up to the Broyhill Inn, the chancellor’s house and the current baseball field. That road holds Bodenheimer’s name.

“He was instrumental in getting that done,” Adams said. “He knew somebody in the right place in the right time and could get that financed,” he said.

Bodenheimer joined the U.S. Navy after attending Granite Falls High School. He attended Appalachian State Teachers College in 1949 after his release from the Navy.

Bodenheimer majored in science and physical education while at Appalachian State Teachers College.

“Back then, you had these guys who had been in World War II and came out and some of those guys were still playing,” Adams said. “He had been in the Navy and came back out and I’m sure he was on the GI Bill at that point. This was about the time when the Korean War broke out and we just lost a bunch of guys. I went from the sixth offensive tackle to starting because there was a crisis.”

In 1952, Bodenheimer took a job as a teacher and as a coach at Charlotte Technical High School. He stayed at Charlotte Tech until 1954 when he went to work in the investment division of the Prudential Insurance Company.

Four years later, he took a position at First Citizen’s Bank, where during a 30-year career, he worked his way up to president of the bank in 1988.

Bodenheimer also acquired the Zickgraf Enterprises Inc., a hardwood manufacturing business in Franklin. He turned it into the Zickgraf Hardwood Company, and also owned the Nantahala Lumber Company and the Franklin Machine Company, all in Franklin.

Adams said that Bodenheimer donated the flooring for the chancellor’s house and for the alumni center.

He also served on several boards, including as past president of the Alumni Association, chairman of the Yosef Club and was on the board of directors on the Appalachian Foundation Inc.

“He was just a great person,” Adams said. “He did a lot for Appalachian while he was here and during his career out in the business world.”

Bodenheimer is survived by his wife, Margaret Kuhn “Margy” Bodenheimer, son, F.P. Bodenheimer III, of Franklin, daughter, Tracy Bodenheimer of Greensboro, and Dawn Annfield of Franklin.

The funeral was at 2 p.m. Saturday at Jamestown United Methodist Church. A reception followed at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro. There was a private burial at Guilford Memorial Park in Greensboro. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Franklin.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions are made to the Jamestown United Methodist Church Music Ministry, 403 E. Main St., Jamestown, NC 27282, or a charitable organization or ministry of one’s choice.