Wyndham Championship Press Conference 6/18/08

Allen Gant, Jr. of Burlington, N.C. has been named the honorary chairman of the 2008 Wyndham Championship. Gant is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Piedmont Triad Charitable Foundation Board which oversees operation of the Wyndham Championship.
Gant, a recognized community leader in Alamance County, is the second consecutive Honorary Chairman from outside Guilford County, emphasizing the Wyndham Championship’s increasing regional impact. Gant is serving as an ambassador for the PGA TOUR event which provides important economic benefits for the entire region and the state.

Gant is president and chief executive officer of Glen Raven, Inc., a global leader in performance fabric. The company’s leading brand is Sunbrella®, a family of performance fabrics recognized as leaders in awning, casual furniture and marine applications. The company, founded in 1880 by Gant’s grandfather, has manufacturing locations in North America, Europe and Asia. Glen Raven, Inc. remains family owned.

“Allen Gant has been a corporate leader in Burlington and throughout the Triad for many years,” Piedmont Triad Charitable Foundation Board chairman Bobby Long said. “To have him as our first honorary chairman from Alamance County says a lot about the continued regionalization of the Wyndham Championship. Last year, Paul Fulton from Forsyth County did a fantastic job, and we know Allen will do the same this year. Both of these great men understand what it takes to grow regionally and compete nationally.”

“What an incredible honor to be asked to represent the Wyndham Championship as the honorary chairman,” Gant said. “Golf is without a doubt the most competitive sport in the world with more accountability than any other professional sport. Just to be associated with a major tournament in this way is quite something.

“The Wyndham Championship has the incredible opportunity to bring the entire Piedmont Triad together. This region has so much potential; if we find new ways to work together and pool our resources, there is no limit to the success that we can achieve. We are truly blessed to have Wyndham Worldwide as our title sponsor, and I hope the Triad region works hard to continue to deserve their support.”

Gant joins an impressive list of former honorary chairmen that includes Mackey McDonald Chairman and CEO of VF Corporation, Dennis Glass, president and chief operation officer of Lincoln Financial; Jim Melvin, president of Bryan Foundation and former mayor of Greensboro; Charlie Reid, former chairman of United Guaranty and Fred Starr, former chairman of Thomasville Furniture.