Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Centers, Inc. Gives Lifetime Achievement Award To John Crosland, Jr.

Charlotte, NC, March 30, 2000 - The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Centers, Inc. today honored John Crosland, Jr. with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Senior Centers is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing services and opportunities for citizens 55 years and older and their families.

Crosland, chairman of The Crosland Group, Inc., was guest of honor at a fund-raising dinner in the Adams Mark Hotel. In its tribute, the Senior Centers noted that during his career '...he has garnered many honors including 'National Builder of the Year' presented by Professional Builder magazine, induction into the National Housing Hall of Fame (the National Association of Home Builders highest honor) and appointments to two terms as NAHB's regional vice president.'

In the program, the Senior Centers also wrote: 'Most evident throughout his career has been his dedication to affordable housing. He has served on task forces, chaired committees and lobbied for updating building codes and other real estate related legislation. This is best exemplified by the success of Habitat for Humanity, which he helped to found in 1983, serving as its first chair. Governor Jim Hunt appointed him Chair of the Housing Finance Agency in 1977 and he served in that capacity until 1989. During that time, the Housing Finance Agency increased its support for low and moderate income housing from $16 million to more than $750 million.'

J. W. 'Bill' Disher, honorary event chairman, introduced Rusty Page who was master of ceremony of a 'roast.' In addition to Page, the other 'roasters' were long-time friends Bailey Patrick, Jr., attorney with Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman; Henry J. Faison, executive vice president of Trammell Crow Company, and Cameron M. Harris, president of Cameron M. Harris Company.

Stephanie Noonan, executive director of Senior Centers, presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Crosland. Willis Hodgin, Jr., president of the board of directors of the Senior Centers, made the closing remarks.