Pete Mullis Mann

Year Inducted: 2023

Pete Mullis Mann’s life was filled with a deep love for family, church, education and Wilkes County. Pete was born into very humble beginnings in Harmony, NC on October 29th, 1946.  His father, JD Mann, worked as a tobacco farmer and rural mail carrier.  His mother, Frances Mann, raised four children in a loving home with no indoor plumbing.  School those days meant kids got a welcome break from farm work. Pete graduated North Iredell High School in 1965 and enrolled at Mars Hill College.

After his freshman year, he went on a date with Rebecca Ann “Becky” Comer (whom he had known since kindergarten) and the rest for them was history. He graduated Mars Hill College in 1968 with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and a degree in English.  He married Becky, the love of his life, and then went on to obtain his first graduate degree at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.  While in Kentucky, Pete and Becky welcomed their first daughter into the world in 1971, Jennifer Lynn Mann. Pete graduated from seminary in 1971 with a Master of Religious Education (MRE) Degree.

In 1973, while on a visit back to North Carolina following the unexpected death of his father, Pete landed a teaching position at Wilkes Community College (WCC).  At the advice of his father-in-law, Charles Comer, Pete went on to interview with Dr. Howard Thompson, who was the President of WCC. For 41 years (1973 – 2014), Pete was an instructor of English, Philosophy and Religion at WCC.  He taught hundreds of members of the community who went on to various careers around the world.  He served as Chairperson for the Humanities and Social Sciences Department, Lead Instructor for the Department of Humanities and served as a student advisor. He helped bring word processing on computers to English, Humanities and other Social Sciences courses.  He also helped develop WCC’s first Computer Writing Lab.   

Pete earned a second graduate Ed.S (Education Specialist in High Education) English degree from Appalachian State University in 1975.  He and Becky also formed a technical writing business called Techniform and wrote a college English textbook titled Essay Writing: Methods and Models.

In 1974, Pete and Becky had their second daughter, Alison Rebecca Mann.

Years later, from their house overlooking Cub Creek Park, they saw Lenderman’s Shoe Store on Main Street Wilkesboro, on fire.  Pete wanted to help and became a Wilkesboro Fireman for 23 years (1979 – 2002). In his final years with the Wilkesboro Fire Department, Pete served as the Chaplain providing comfort to citizens and fellow fire fighters in times of crisis.   

Pete and Becky led the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) at their daughters’ school, Wilkesboro Elementary. They also helped to start the first food co-op in Wilkes County. In addition, they led community group trips to Europe for many years.

Pete served as mayor of Wilkesboro from 1995-1999.  During this time, he wrote the first town motto, “Where the Mountains Begin” and helped to develop the first town flag and seal. He led the town of Wilkesboro in its Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1997. And he led the effort to determine the feasibility of the downtown park that is now the “Commons” today.

During his time as mayor, the town installed new city limit signs, created a town newsletter titled “Our Town”, helped create an internet web page and worked with commissioners to ensure consistency in policies for town employees. He worked with county commissioners and the Yadkin River Greenway to begin greenway development and promote the construction of a new fire department in Wilkesboro.  Pete lobbied legislators for special consideration for the Town of Wilkesboro, and represented Wilkesboro at hundreds of functions all over Wilkes County and at the state legislature in Raleigh.  He also secured a state grant to write the history of Wilkesboro.

Starting in 1979, Pete was a devoted member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. He served in numerous leadership roles including Senior Warden.  During his time as Senior Warden, the church built a new larger sanctuary connected to the historic chapel.  Pete served on the Vestry multiple times and as a church docent, he led many visits of church buildings and grounds.  Pete served as a church historian, adult Sunday school and book club leader.  He chaired the Christian Education Committee, served as the leader of the Men’s Breakfast, chaired the Worship Committee, served on the Pony Express Stewardship Campaign and the Pastoral Care Committee.

Throughout his life, Pete has loved his family and friends very much.  He especially enjoyed being a “Pa” to his three grandsons – Austin, Charlie and Davis Lankford. Pete always described himself as one happy man. His love for living and serving Wilkes County was unending.