Shelmer Doyle Blackburn, Jr.

Year Inducted: 2014

Shelmer Doyle Blackburn, Jr. was born September 26, 1960, in North Wilkesboro. He is a graduate of West Wilkes High School in 1978 and Wake Forest University in 1982. Blackburn was inducted as a member of the Wake Forest Board of Trustees in 2011 and will serve in that role until 2015.

Blackburn spent 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry starting as the Transplant Coordinator at Washington Hospital in the early 1980s. In late 1980s, Blackburn joined Burroughs Wellcome in Research Triangle Park to work on clinical drug studies.

In 1995, Blackburn was a founding partner of United Therapeutics. United Therapeutics Corporation is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of unique products to address the unmet medical needs of patients with chronic and life-threatening conditions.

Blackburn was also co-founder of Champion Cattle Company consisting of thousands of cattle located nearby and in the Midwest. Champion Cattle Company buys cattle in the Midwest, Virginia and the Carolinas.

In 2002, he established The Blackburn Family Foundation Charitable Organization. Blackburn is the former Chairman of Adult Enrichment Services of Wilkes County and was instrumental in the establishment of the Ruby Pardue Blackburn Adult Day Care. Opened in 2008, the Ruby Pardue Blackburn Adult Day Care center provides much needed services to families of the community.

Blackburn currently serves on the Boards of Wilkes County Rescue Squad Board and the North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association Board.