Who?

Bob Gaddis was reared in southwestern Ohio. He attended public schools in a small, rural town, where working-class family values were expressed throughout the community. Hard work and education were foremost features of small-town midwestern life. 

The grandson of eastern North Carolina farmers, Bob spent several summers of his youth working on the family farm, helping tend livestock, gardening and working in tobacco.

Bob attended The Ohio State University in Columbus, studying agricultural economics and agricultural journalism. He later attended Ft. Lauderdale University, where he studied real estate and business law and ecology. 

In 1972, Bob married Bonnie Odgers, of Columbus and they moved to Pompano Beach, Florida, where he joined the family real estate business, as a real estate broker. By 1975 the lure of North Carolina drew him back to the family farm. He moved here, taking a job with Wickes Building Components, first as a truck driver and later as truss-fabrication supervisor.

In 1977, Bob went to work for Worthington Farms, Inc of Greenville, where he would be instrumental in managing several divisions of the 5000-sow hog farm and feed mill. Later, he was hired as manager of Neuse Milling in Kinston and owned a 400-sow hog operation. He returned to Worthington Farms to manage a special swine-breeding project. 

From 1985-1991, Bob drove tractor-trailer for Grady-White Boats of Greenville. Later, he was a warehouse supervisor, and drove as a contract driver for Moen, Inc, True-Value Hardware and Walgreens. 

Following Hurricane Floyd in 1999, Bob became the Executive Director of the Kinston Area Recovery Effort(K.A.R.E), under the auspices of the Kinston Association of Congregations. Overseeing the volunteer workers and repair of hundreds of homes in the flooded areas, he effectively marshalled the material and financial resources and managing a diverse work force. Seeing firsthand the economic devastation of the flood, he became intimately familiar with the challenges that would affect the community for years to come.

A bluegrass musician, Bob founded and managed the Eastern North Carolina Bluegrass Association form November 1981 until the early 1990's. With the goal to provide a venue for clean, wholesome traditional family entertainment, the ENCBGA successfully drew visitors to Kinston every month. The Kinston Winter Bluegrass Festival was a direct offshoot of the ENCBGA that continues to draw visitors to Kinston, as does the original association.  Bob also traveled with the original Down East Boys, a Southern Gospel group, in the early 1980's, playing banjo. fiddle and guitar.

Active in community and church activities, Bob  has risen to the leadership ranks in every organization. At Graingers Baptist Church, he served as Chairman of Deacons, School Superintendant, messenger to the Neuse Baptist Association, and served on the pastor search comittee and building/planning committee. A member of Spilman Memorial Baptist Church since 1996, Bob has served on the Vision Team and as a deacon, choir member and adult Sunday School teacher.

Bob was served as the President of Lenoir County's first Master Gardeners program and is the President of the Neuse Regional Beekeepers. He also served as secretary of the NC State Beekeepers Association, one of the largest beekeeping organizations in the nation. He currently serves as a Coastal Plain Regional Director of the NC Beekeepers Association. He currently maintains a small beekeeping operation and is working on his Master Beekeepers certification. The former treasurer of the Contentnea Ruritan Club, he currently serves as vice-president of the club.

in 1996, Bob graduated from Mount Olive College, New Bern campus, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Organizational Development. Earning a 4.0 gpa, he graduated with High Honors.

Bob's interests include woodworking, reading and writing, history and politics, musical instrument repair, performing music, beekeeping, computers, antique tractors and his 1931 Model A Ford truck. 

Bonnie and Bob have two children: Alan, a North Lenoir High School graduate who  is a Gunnery Sergeant USMC, stationed in Hawaii; and Sarah Gaddis Crowe, a Kinston High graduate, who lives in Kinston and is an emerging photographer. They have four grandchildren. Bonnie was a successful Tupperware manager for many years and taught at North Lenoir High School before transferrimg to Contentnea/Savannah K-8. They reside in the house they built on the family farm in 1978.

Through a variety of work experiences and interaction with diverse people in the workplace, Bob has tremendous insight into the lives and conditions of the people who live in Lenoir County.