The pair of U.S. 64 bridges over N.C. 58 just northwest of Nashville are now dedicated in honor and memory of the late brothers Nick Boddie and Mayo Boddie Sr.
The dedication is a recognition of their examples of leadership as Rocky Mount-based business executives and servants to the region.
The bridges are southeast of Rose Hill, where the two brothers were born. Mayo Boddie Sr. acquired and transformed Rose Hill into a venue for events and weddings.
A ceremony Wednesday afternoon unveiling a likeness of the bridge signage occurred at Boddie-Noell Enterprises’ headquarters off Hunter Hill Road in the northwestern part of Rocky Mount. Boddie-Noell is the largest franchisee of Hardee’s fast-food restaurants and is also in real estate development.
The gathering featured remarks from family member Anne Mosley, United Way Tar River Region Executive Director Ginny Mohrbutter, Nash County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robbie Davis and Division 4 N.C. Department of Transportation board member Melvin Mitchell. Division 4 includes Nash County.
Mitchell’s predecessor on the transportation board, insurance agent Gus Tulloss, who was in the audience, also was recognized for having been persistent in having recommended that the Boddie brothers be honored when he was serving on the board.
Nashville Mayor Brenda Brown, who also was in the audience, was recognized as well.
Boddie-Noell Chairman and CEO Bill Boddie, who is a son of Mayo Boddie Sr. and a nephew of Nick Boddie, gave welcoming remarks and introduced the speakers.
Mosley is a daughter of Nick Boddie and a niece of Mayo Boddie Sr. Mosley said she believes when her father and uncle were alive they would have wanted such an honor bestowed on others whom they felt were more deserving.
Mosley told the attendees that most of those gathered knew her father and her uncle, but that for those who did not, she was quite certain that they heard that the two were wonderfully loving husbands, fathers and grandfathers; and in her uncle’s case, he also was a great-grandfather.
“And they loved their community, their church, their county, their state and their country almost as much as they loved their families,” Mosley said.
Mosley also spoke about her father and her uncle having found joy and satisfaction in helping support many institutions, organizations and philanthropies.
The list includes the Boy Scouts, the Salvation Army, the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce, the United Way, the Red Cross, the Boys & Girls Clubs, N.C. Wesleyan University, the YMCA, the YWCA, the Optimist service club and Animal Crackers. The latter promotes responsible ownership of pets.
The list also includes the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“But the most important aspect of their many civic and community contributions is the fact that their support was genuinely heartfelt, whether it be monetary or hard-working manual labor hours,” Mosley said.
“They were both made from the same mold,” she said. “Where they saw a need, they felt a need to help fulfill it — and would do whatever they were able in order to achieve the goal.”
She also said that she heard her father and her uncle comment many times that they felt fortunate and grateful to lead the lives that they were blessed with so that they could give back to others.
“They truly had a passion for helping others — and served and continue to serve today as an inspiration for others who are able to do the same,” she said.
The United Way Tar River Region’s office, which is off Sunset Avenue and in the city’s Englewood area, was formerly a headquarters of Boddie-Noell Enterprises.
Mohrbutter spoke about her and her team having experienced Nick Boddie and Mayo Boddie Sr. having set a culture of caring and concern that went way beyond the dollars and cents of running a highly successful business.
“In my mind, Nick and Mayo perfectly threaded the needle of building a highly successful business while also taking care of others,” Mohrbutter said.
Mohrbutter also emphasized that if one reads the biographies of the two men, then one is going to see a list of successes.
“You will also see that they sat on numerous boards and were involved in countless nonprofit agencies, civic groups and other business ventures,” Mohrbutter said.
“You will see that they received many awards — and even with all of these accomplishments, successes and notoriety, they were both humble, and they did not seek the spotlight,” she said.
Davis read aloud the county’s resolution having successfully requested the dedication by the transportation board, but before Davis did so, he emphasized his belief that Nick Boddie and Mayo Boddie Sr. had been great visionaries and had accomplished much.
More specifically, Davis said, “The two things that stand out most to me as a small businessman is, number one, I’ve never known anyone that worked in this building — and I’ve known quite a few of them and still know quite a few of you — that didn’t love their job.”
Davis said Boddie-Noell Enterprises’ employees don’t complain about their job.
“I don’t know what y’all do to make that happen — and I’m sure it’s something you learned from your dads and your uncles,” Davis noted. “But that always impressed me that they all seemed to enjoy their job — and they seemed to be happy in their jobs.”
Davis also said what else impressed him almost even more was that Boddie-Noell was able to transition the company into the next generation and that they were able to do so with family members.
“I don’t know if any of you have ever tried to do that or not, but it’s a very difficult thing to do,” he said.
Mitchell spoke about being honored to have been invited to participate in the dedication.
“The Boddies have been a pillar of our community for a very long time, a truly, truly long time,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell also noted that he served on boards and committees with the Boddies.
Mitchell, who is in the insurance business, also spoke about Mayo Boddie Sr. having given him some sage advice while one day giving him a tour of Rose Hill in a golf cart.
Mitchell, noting he was younger at the time, said that when he asked Mayo Boddie Sr. what he could do to be successful, he said that Mayo Boddie Sr. replied, “You surround yourself with smart and good people.”
Nick Boddie and Mayo Boddie Sr., along with another family member, Carleton Noell, founded Boddie-Noell in 1962.
Noell died in 1979 at age 81. Nick Boddie died in 2011 at age 84. Mayo Boddie Sr. died in 2020 at age 90.
Local News
Comments / 0