247-24 RESOLUTION TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF THE LATE HENRY HARRIS ISAACSON
WHEREAS, on June 27, 2024, the City of Greensboro North Carolina (NC) and the Piedmont Triad community lost one of its great civic leaders with the passing of Henry Harris Isaacson at the age of 91;
WHEREAS, the younger of two children, Mr. Isaacson was born in Greensboro, NC on April 29, 1933; a graduate of Greensboro Senior High School; obtained a Bachelor’s of Art degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1955; in 1958, Mr. Isaacson graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law with a Juris Doctorate with honors; and in 1958, Mr. Isaacson was admitted to the North Carolina Bar;
WHEREAS, in 1954, he married his college sweetheart and their 69-year marriage brought forth three children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren;
WHEREAS, Mr. Isaacson was dedicated to his family and his faith; was a member of Temple Emanuel in Greensboro; and served as the Secretary, Vice-President, and ultimately the Temple’s President from 1968-1970;
WHEREAS, after graduating from law school, Mr. Isaacson served as a United States Air Force Captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps;
WHEREAS, Mr. Isaacson returned to Greensboro to practice law, where he joined the firm of Block, Meyland, & Lloyd; practiced general corporate law with the firm of Stern, Rendleman, & Isaacson until opening his own firm in 1980;
WHEREAS, after a long and storied legal career in Greensboro, NC, Mr. Isaacson retired from practicing law in December 2022; was often touted as a leading land use attorney by the North Carolina Business Journal; was widely recognized for his work, receiving numerous awards and accolades, amongst them a Martindale Hubbell “AV” rating, North Carolina Super Lawyer in 2005, named one of the Best Lawyers in America 2007-2019, and Lawyer of the Year in 2012, 2014, and 2020 by Land Use and Zoning Law in Triad;
WHEREAS, Mr. Isaacson believed in public service, and was bestowed the Centennial Award for Outstanding and Exemplary Community Service by the North Carolina Bar Association and the Greensboro Bar Association; he served numerous organizations and sat on many boards throughout the community, including President of the Greensboro Jaycees, Greensboro ABC Board, North Carolina Agriculture &Technical State University, International Civil Rights Museum & Center, Sit-In Movement, Inc., One Step Further, Human Relations Commission of Greensboro, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, City of Greensboro/Guilford County Intergovernmental Task Force, founding board member of North Carolina for Community and Justice of the Piedmont Triad, and most notably, Mr. Isaacson served as Chairman of the National Conference of Christians and Jews (NCCJ) from 1975-1991,being awarded their Citation Award in 2005;
WHEREAS, throughout his work with the Guilford College’s Board of Trustees, Mr. Isaacson developed a love for Piedmont Triad International (PTI) Airport, and additionally served on the Board beginning in 1999, where sat as Chairman of the Board from 2003-2014;
WHEREAS, under Mr. Isaacson’s leadership and direction, PTI expanded and grew with projects and businesses such as the FedEx East Coast Hub, Honda Aircraft, TIMCO’s Maintenance Facility expansion, airport terminal renovation, a new roadway system, and a new runway, all of which were instrumental in Toyota Battery and Boom Supersonic locating factories within the Greensboro/Piedmont Triad region;
WHEREAS, Mr. Isaacson will be remembered throughout the City of Greensboro and the Piedmont Triad as a visionary trailblazer, community servant, a tireless worker, and dedicated to many causes; his community service, leadership engagement, and love for Greensboro, NC will continue to impact the region for generations; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO:
1. That the City of Greensboro City Council wishes to express its deep sense of loss and offer its condolences, sincere appreciation, and gratitude for the many years of dedicated public service and community leadership by Mr. Isaacson. The legacy he leaves will live on, and be remembered by the residents of Greensboro and the Piedmont area.
2. That a copy of this resolution shall be delivered to the family of the late Henry Harris Isaacson as a symbol of the gratitude of the residents of the City of Greensboro for his many contributions to the City of Greensboro and beyond.
(Signed) Nancy Vaughan