Harvey A. Jonas Jr. Memorial

Harvey A. Jonas Jr. Memorial

Harvey was born May 12, 1919 in Lincolnton, he was the son of the late Harvey A. Jonas Sr. and Maude Crowell Jonas, and grew up on the family homesite that is now the location of the Charles Jonas Library on West Main Street. He earned his Eagle Scout award while attending Lincolnton High school and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1940. He earned his law degree at UNC in 1942 before entering World War II as a U.S. Navy Officer.

Mr. Jonas was a charter member of the Lincolnton post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and was a former commander of the local American Legion Post. A former Master of Lincoln Lodge 137, AF&AM, and a Shriner, he also served as president of the Lincolnton Chamber of Commerce and the Lincolnton Kiwanis Club. A lifelong member and leader of Lincoln’s First United Methodist Church, he formerly served as Gastonia district Lay Leader and served for several years as a trustee of the Rock Springs Campground.

He was chairman of the board of First Federal Savings Bank for many years and served on the board for more than 60 years. He also was a former board member of Gordon Crowell Memorial Hospital; Cochrane Furniture Co.; Cronland Warp Roll Co.; and Lincoln Frozen Foods. He served on the local board of First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. and was a charter member and president of the Lincoln County Horseman’s Association.

Harvey retired as senior partner from the Jonas Law Firm in 1980 but remained “of counsel” and continued to take care of the legal needs of his longtime clients and friends. He was a former member of the N.C. Bar Counsel and was one of the first lawyers selected for the N.C. Bar Association’s General Practice Hall of Fame. He was admitted to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1965 and was recognized by the NC State Bar for practicing law for 50 years and continued to practice for a total of 76 years. It was his desire to die a practicing member of the NC State Bar and NC Bar Association. He was a devoted family man who loved his country, the Republican Party and his law firm where he practice for a number of years with his father, the late Harvey A. Jonas Sr., his cousin, former U.S. Congressman Charles R. Jonas, Charles’ son, Richard E. Jonas and for 21 years with his granddaughter, Rebecca J. Pomeroy.