Mr. Bruce A. Elmore Sr.

BRUCE A. ELMORE, SR. Bruce A . Elmore, Sr. died December 12, 2009 in Mission Hospital after battling Alzheimer’s for a number of years. His death was precipitated by complications from a broken hip. A native of Bryson City, North Carolina, Mr. Elmore’s career was based in Asheville, from which he was a prominent member of the Western North Carolina and state-wide legal community for over half a century. He attended Mars Hill College where he played football for two years, transferring to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was on the boxing team. On December 7, 1941, Mr. Elmore hitchhiked from Chapel Hill to Washington, DC and was in the Congressional Gallery on December 8, 1941 when war was declared on Japan. He dropped out of Law School and enlisted in the Army Air Corp. After WWII, Mr. Elmore returned to UNC Law School and while a student there he was elected to the North Carolina General Assembly where he served in the State House. After establishing his law practice in Asheville, his various partners included a U.S. Congressman and a North Carolina Supreme Court Judge, as well as Superior Court and District Court Judges. In 1971, Bruce Elmore, Sr. obtained the first Million Dollar verdict in the State of North Carolina, which was the 18th verdict of that size in the nation. He was a charter member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, which is a prestigious organization limited to 100 lawyers throughout the United States who have obtained jury verdicts in excess of a Million Dollars and who have had a least 50 jury trials. John Edwards, Morris Dees of the southern Poverty Law Center and Johnnie Cochran (deceased) are well known members of this select group of lawyers. In the late 1970s Mr. Elmore was nominated by President Carter to the United States District Court for Western North Carolina, but the recent loss of his wife, June Love Elmore, and his desire to stay in private practice in Asheville caused him to decline that Presidential appointment. He was a former member of the Board of Governors of the 16-campus University of North Carolina System and the Board of Trustees of University of North Carolina at Asheville. He was a founding member and on the board of directors of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers (now known as the North Carolina Advocates for Justice). Over the years he lectured on trial advocacy at Harvard University and for North Carolina Continuing Legal Education classes. An ardent and life-long Democrat, Mr. Elmore was, at various times, Vice-President of the Young Democrats and the North Carolina Democrat Party Treasurer. In 1984 he was the chair of the consolidated State Democratic Presidential, Senate and Governor’s campaigns. He was a 50-year-plus member of Central United Methodist Church in Asheville. Mr. Elmore is survived by his widow of 29 years, Ann Rankin Elmore, his daughter, Ann Love Elmore Crofts of Providence, Rhode Island, son Bruce A. Elmore, Jr. of Asheville, North Carolina, step-children Ruth Cosgrove, Ann Sprinkle and Stacy Eichorst, all of Asheville, grandchildren Rebecca Elmore, Scott Elmore, Hunter, Ali and Zach Cosgrove, Mason Sprinkle and Christina Sprinkle Warren, Rawley Eichorst and three great-grandchildren. Special thanks are given to Maude Blakely for her years of devotion to the family, to Cindy and Mike Waddell, to the Staff of Mission Hospital, and to Clare Bridge, the Dementia and Alzheimer’s Facility where he spent his last months. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601. A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. at in the Chapel of Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, North Carolina. Morris Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent through the website morrisfamilyfuneralhome.com

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Mr. Bruce A. Elmore Sr.

November 1, 1920 - December 12, 2009