Irwin Belk

{{Short description|American businessman and politician (1922–2018)}} [[File:Irwin Belk.jpg|thumb|Belk c. 1961]] '''Irwin Belk''' (April 4, 1922 – February 24, 2018) was an American businessman and politician.

Belk was born in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]. He went to [[The McCallie School]] and [[Davidson College]]. In 1946, Belk received his bachelor's degree from [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]]. Belk served in the [[United States Army Air Forces]] during [[World War II]]. He worked for [[Belk]], a [[department store]] chain founded by his father William Henry Belk, and served as former CEO. Under his leadership, Belk Inc. became the largest, privately owned department store chain in the United States.<ref>[https://encyclopedia.wp.uncg.edu/irwin-belk/ Irwin Belk - Encyclopedia of UNCG History]. ''UNC Greensboro''. Retrieved December 5, 2022.</ref> Belk served in the [[North Carolina House of Representatives]] from 1959 to 1962 and the [[North Carolina Senate]] from 1963 to 1966. Belk was a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]. In 1999, President [[Bill Clinton]] appointed Belk as an alternative delegate to the [[United Nations]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Irwin Belk Obituary (1922 - 2018) - Legacy Remembers |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/irwin-belk-obituary?id=1630656 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919222420/https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/irwin-belk-obituary?id=1630656 |archive-date=2023-09-19 |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Legacy.com}}</ref><ref>[https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1999/11/1999-11-02-belk-named-as-alternate-to-the-un-general-assembly.html The White House-President Clinton Appoints Irwin Belk as Alternative Delegate to the United Nations]</ref><ref>'North Carolina Manual 1963,' North Carolina Secretary of State, Biographical Sketch of Irwin Belk, pg. 30</ref> Irwin Belk was married to Carol Grotnes Belk for 66 years.<ref name=":0" />

==Notes== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Belk, Irwin}} [[Category:1922 births]] [[Category:2018 deaths]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Charlotte, North Carolina]] [[Category:Politicians from Charlotte, North Carolina]] [[Category:United States Army Air Forces soldiers]] [[Category:Military personnel from Charlotte, North Carolina]] [[Category:Davidson College alumni]] [[Category:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni]] [[Category:Democratic Party members of the North Carolina House of Representatives]] [[Category:Democratic Party North Carolina state senators]] [[Category:United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II]] [[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]