Everett Benton Padgett, Jr. was born on April 28, 1944 in Roanoke, Virginia and grew up in Hillsville, Virginia.

After graduating from Hillsville High School, he enrolled at Wake Forest College where he majored in Latin.  He graduated in 1966 with a B.A. degree.  He later got his Master’s Degree at Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland.

He married Margaret Elizabeth Allmond on March 25, 1967.  They have two children,

In 1966, he began his teaching career as a Latin teacher at Oak Ridge Academy.  He also taught at Severn School, Severna Park, Maryland and was Director of Studies and Dean of Students, Westchester Academy in High Point.

In 1979, he entered the insurance profession with Jones & Peacock in High Point.  In 1983, he joined Dixie Insurance in Winston-Salem and in 1994 became Senior Vice-President and manager of the Insurance Department for High Point Bank and Trust Company in High Point.  In 1999 he founded his own company, The Benton Agency where he serves as president.

He was President of the Westchester Academy Booster Club, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees for Westchester Academy.

He served a term on the Administrative Board of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in High Point.

He joined the Rotary Club of North High Point (now The Triad club) in 1982 and served as president in 1986-87.  He served as district governor in 1991-92.  In 2003, he formed the Rotary Club of Willow Creek where he was a member until June, 2014.  He is currently a member of the Rotary Club of Kernersville.

As district Rotary Foundation Chairman in 1995-1996, he broke his own record for district contributions to The Rotary Foundation.  He and Margaret are Level Two Major Donors and members of the Bequest Society.

He served as District Trainer from July of 1992 until 2011 and served the District as Archives Chairman.  He served as the district’s representative twice to the Rotary International Council on Legislation.

He was the recipient of The Rotary Foundation’s “Citation for Meritorious Service.”  He received the President’s “Golden Citation” for Rotary International Presidents in 1996 and 1997.  He was then awarded the Rotary International “Service Above Self Award” in 2002.  He received the Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award in 2012.

Everett passed away on November 30, 2020.

-PRID Ken Morgan (2017)

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