David Shelton

Year Inducted: 2023

David Shelton was born in Patrick County, Virginia and grew up as the sixth of thirteen children on a tobacco farm in rural Stokes County.  Consequently, a solid work ethic was developed early in life as the normal 40-hour work week arrived around noon Wednesday and continued until sunset Saturday. 

David graduated from North Stokes High School participating in many educational and service clubs as well as the basketball, baseball, and track and field teams.  Heeding advice from a high school counselor, he attended and earned a degree in mathematics from Berea College in Kentucky.  As a stellar athlete on the baseball team, David received national recognition and was pursued by professional baseball organizations. Instead he chose post graduate education earning maters and doctoral degrees concentrating in mathematics and administrative management from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. 

During graduate school David worked as a part time employee for Lowe’s Companies which eventually morphed to full time.  From various positions in store management to corporate leadership, he eventually became a senior executive in charge of real estate, engineering, and construction.  This position comprised the last ten years of a successful career with the company.  He retired in 2007 and has since served on several public and nonprofit boards.  Currently, he is a board member and past chair of the Board for Berea College, president of the Health Foundation in Wilkes County, and president of the Advisory Board for the Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine, a Division of Advocate Health.  He has also served on the Board of Visitors for Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.  His philanthropic and charitable interests arc more toward education and health care, bending mostly in favor of family, the less fortunate, and underserved members in our communities.  By choice most of this support is done in an anonymous fashion. 

David enjoys golfing, snow skiing, kiteboarding, and most outdoor exercise activity.  He is also an avid classic car collector.