A buddy of mine the other day told me that he had read my latest “article,” and I replied as I always do when confronted with said compliment by telling him I appreciated that.

He then asked, “What was the point?”

“There is no point,” I said. “If you are looking for a point, you are missing the point, unless flushing stray thoughts from my brain with the hope of getting an occasional chuckle, dazzling with my boundless vocabulary, and turning ordinary words into a banquet, all while earning beer money, is a point.”

I do not think he got that point either.

My guess is regular readers already knew all that, but just in case they did not, they do now. When I was invited following my retirement by The Robesonian to write a weekly piece, I opted against any heavy-lifting, figuring 24 years of that was plenty – and that another voice and perspective were needed.

Because if you do not use it, you lose it, I continue to dabble periodically with more traditional journalism, having penned three pieces, all of which earned the cover, for an excellent publication called “Business North Carolina,” whose home is in Charlotte and mission is well-explained by its name.

I have done so at the invitation of its editor, David Mildenberg, who has provided both guidance and excellent editing to a person heretofore unfamiliar with the nuances of writing for a magazine instead of a newspaper, including the gift of a few more keystrokes to tell the tale.

The pay is nice as well, allowing for an occasional ribeye and a glass of red wine.

Mildenberg has asked me to focus on leaders in the business community who have strong roots in Robeson County. My plan today is to share those stories, understanding that not everyone has a copy of “Business North Carolina” on their coffee table and that they might also not know how to access it on the Internet.

The first story, published on Oct. 1, 2020, was on Jim Thomas, a Pembroke native who made a fortune in real estate and is known as the “architect of the LA skyline.” A fun fact is that Thomas, now 85 years old, owns what was Bing Crosby’s old home on the 13th hole of the iconic Pebble Beach Golf Course. He has been very generous in his support of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

My belief is his story is not widely known in Robeson County, but it can be found here: https://businessnc.com/tag/jim-thomas/

The second story, published on July 1, 2021, featured Aaron Thomas – a relative of Jim Thomas’ – who helped establish and owns Metcon, a Pembroke general-contracting business that employs about 55, does hundreds of millions of dollars of business each year, and has been recognized many times for its innovation and energy-efficient buildings.

Metcon is well known around here, not only for its quality work, but for being supportive of worthy causes locally, with UNCP again being a beneficiary. I know I have teed it up more than once in a charity golf tournament on Metcon’s dime.

That story can be found here: https://businessnc.com/contractor-aaron-thomas-grand-plan/

The final story, published on Sept. 1, features John Townsend, a Lumberton native who made a fortune on Wall Street, including working as a general partner with the venerable Goldman Sachs. John’s younger brother David was my college roommate during my freshman year at UNC, but John returned to my radar in 2017 when it was announced he and his wife Marree were giving $50 million to our alma mater, half in cash and the balance in art to be displayed at the Ackland Art Museum.

Queried on why such a substantial gift, I will never forget John telling me he and his wife wanted to make a gift that made them “uncomfortable.”

His story can be found here: https://businessnc.com/john-townsends-path-from-lumberton-to-wall-street-serves-up-a-big-win-for-unc-chapel-hill/

I have strayed today from my usual path and indeed made a point – or at least attempted to.

The point being, you can be born and raised in little ole Robeson County, either in rags or to riches, and distinguish yourself in this world the old-fashioned way, through hard work and persistence. And in doing so, you can meet the obligation of putting that money to work for others beyond yourself.

Jim Thomas, Aaron Thomas and John Townsend have all ably answered that call.