BLANCHE & JULIAN ROBERTSON FAMILY FOUNDATION - Key Persons

Alex T. Robertson

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors

Blanche Robertson was active in the civic and social life of Salisbury, being both a founder and trustee emeritus of the Historic Salisbury Foundation. Charming and witty, she said that shortly after moving to Salisbury, she knew she would never be a real Salisburian, but did one thing for her children, "I borned them Episcopalians and Salisburians." She passed away on December 28, 1993.

Bret R. Busby

Job Titles:

Immediate past Chair
Member of the Board of Directors
Member of the Officers and Staff

Dwight F. Messinger

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors
Vice Chair of the Officers and Staff

Fred J. Stanback

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors

Jason A. Walser

Job Titles:

Executive Director
Member of the Officers and Staff

Julian H. Robertson

Job Titles:

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Tiger Management, LLC

was endowed with an initial gift of $18 million from Julian H. Robertson, Jr. of New York, the son of Blanche and Julian Robertson in whose memory the foundation is named. Since the foundation's establishment in 1997, Mr. Robertson has contributed an additional $18 million to the Foundation. After graduating from the Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA and the University Of North Carolina in 1955, he served for two years as an officer in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Robertson was also a hedge fund investor, active philanthropist, environmentalist, proprietor of world class golf resorts, and vineyard owner. Julian Robertson, Jr. and his late wife, Josie, who were the prime benefactors of the park, attended along with Julian's sisters, Wyndham Robertson of Chapel Hill and Blanche Bacon of Raleigh. During the dedication ceremony, Julian spoke fondly of his childhood in Salisbury and announced the creation of a foundation that would help the people of Salisbury and serve as a memorial to his parents, Blanche and Julian Robertson. Then on January 2, 1998, the Blanche & Julian Robertson Family Foundation opened for business. Julian H. Robertson, Sr. was a prominent North Carolina businessman. He was widely known and respected for his leadership in the textile and banking industries, as well as the civic and church life of Salisbury. He was married to Blanche for 62 years. Julian passed away on February 22, 1995. In the past 20 years, the foundation has awarded more than $36 million in grants to 156 organizations and agencies, whose projects address adult and family issues, education, community health concerns, performance and the visual arts, tutoring and childcare, history and preservation, capital improvement and youth activities. The generosity shown by Julian H. Robertson, Jr. in creating the foundation and acting as its principal donor is unparalleled in our community's history. The gift and vision of this "son of Salisbury" will benefit this area and its citizens for many years to come.