Conley Call

Year Inducted: 2019

The late Conley Call was born in Wilkes County and graduated from Mountain View School in 1950.

Call is a graduate of the United States Army Leadership School in Fort Jackson, SC, Artillery and Guided Missile School at Fort Sill, OK, Infantry Career School at Fort Benning GA, and Command and General Staff College. He attended the Institute of Government at Chapel Hill, Wilson Community College, Forsyth Community College and Wilkes Community College.

Call served in the North Carolina National Guard and Army Reserve for 37 years, was past Commander of the North Wilkesboro National Guard, and retired Colonel Army Reserve. In addition to his service in the United States Military, Call was Senior Vice President of Distribution and Purchasing at American Drew for 53 years. He also worked as a fireman for North Wilkesboro Fire Department from 1956 until 1993 where he served as Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Chief and as Chief.

He was a 63 year member of Union Odd Fellow Lodge, past Grand Master of the State of North Carolina, past Sovereign Grand Master of the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows for the World, past Master of the North Wilkesboro Masonic Lodge-Yorkrite-Scotchriete and Shrine. Call served as a member of many organizations such as the Hard Manufacturers Association, Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, Army Reserve Officer’s Association, Virginia Carolinas Purchasing Association, and Wilkes Community College Advisory Board.

He was elected mayor of North Wilkesboro in 1993 and served for 8 years. Call was awarded “Outstanding Soldier of the Year” in 1950 at Fort Jackson, SC, “Wilkes County Young Man of the Year” in 1964, life membership North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs, life membership of Wilkes County Fireman’s Association, and was the recipient of the “Arthritis Foundation Humanitarian Award” in 1995.