Community Leader’s Legacy Will Contribute to Future of Public Health
The Charles L. Dayvault Memorial Fund has been established at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) in Kannapolis to support the development of individualized nutrition – the study of why metabolism and nutrient requirements differ from person to person. The fund has been created to honor Charles L. Dayvault, who died on June 17, 2010. Dayvault’s son and daughter-in-law, Gregg and Leslie Dayvault, together with grandson, Ryan Dayvault, established the fund at the UNC NRI to honor Charles’ love of the people and community of Kannapolis.
Dayvault was the grandson of Paul Monroe Dayvault who owned the 72 acres of farmland in Kannapolis. This farmland was purchased by Mr. J.W. Cannon in 1905, who built Cannon Mills and Town Lake. The property is now home to the North Carolina Research Campus Core Lab.
In 1942, Dayvault met Martha “Polly” Allman near the lake in Kannapolis Town Park and the two married in October, 1945. He had been working since age 11 – first at Dayvault’s Esso Station, then at Beaver Lumber Company, Cannon Mills, Akers Motor Lines and later at Bob and Chick Esso Distributors. In 1991, Dayvault retired from Propst Brothers Distributors. He had also volunteered as a special deputy with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Department for 20 years.
Dayvault’s grandson, Ryan, who works at the NRI, shares that his grandfather was saddened to see the mill and lake demolished, but he was very interested in the vision and mission of the campus. Ryan states, “My grandfather’s love of this community, ties to the land, and hope for the future is what really inspired us to create the fund in his memory. He was optimistic that the campus growth and pioneering research being conducted could help revitalize Kannapolis and benefit future generations.”
Norris Dearmon, long-time friend and Kannapolis historian, said, “Charles was a great friend. We’ve lost a lot of this town’s history in his passing. He lived and worked in Kannapolis his entire life and his knowledge of his ancestors and the beginnings of Kannapolis, is so important to our written records today.”
If you are interested to learn how you can help the NRI conduct critical research, visit uncnri.org/MakeAGift.asp. You can help make a difference.
