Angus Barn Revenue and Competitors

In the year 2006 the Angus Barn had served North Carolina for 46 years leaving us 4 years to go before we catch up to the man who had so much to do with getting it started, Thad Eure, Sr. Service seems to be in the Eure blood. Thad Eure, Sr. was Secretary of State in North Carolina for 50 years, building a reputation as a dedicated and courteous man who inspired others and worked to make North Carolina a better state. On July 21, 1993, the people of North Carolina lost a dear friend. Thad Eure, Sr., affectionately known as "the oldest rat in the Democratic barn," served the state of North Carolina for more than half a century. He will be remembered not only for his trademark red bow tie and straw bowler, but also for the dedication and courtesy he delivered. He influenced generations of politicians, including Governor Jim Hunt, who said of Mr. Eure, "He inspired me and thousands of young people to believe that we could work in politics and government to make North Carolina a better state." Mr. Eure believed in preserving our state's history, of which he himself was so much a part. When others moved from the old State Capitol to more comfortable work space, Mr. Eure refused to give up his office in the copper-domed building. It was in this office, which he occupied during the tenure of 13 North Carolina governors, where Mr. Eure gave thousands of schoolchildren their first experiences with "good government." Mr. Eure welcomed the public , from school groups to governor's pages to grandparents , into his office to speak with him or to see his famous bow tie collection. "He always left his office door open , literally," said former state Democratic chairman Betty McCain. Mr. Eure will always be remembered for his loyalty and honesty, as well as for his confidence in young people. At his 88th birthday party, when he announced his retirement, he declared, " I once again say, Give a young man a chance," his 1936 campaign slogan. He later added that now he would change that slogan to "Give a young person a chance." It was his strong belief in the abilities of young people that encouraged his son, Thad Eure, Jr., to buy a plot of land between Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill for $6,750.00. The rest is history. In 1959 Eure, Sr. walked across the property where the Angus Barn now sits and encouraged his son and his partner, Charles Winston, to buy the five acres of land. Mr. Eure told Charles and Thad that "one of these days, boys, this is going to be a wonderful piece of land." He pointed out that the Raleigh-Durham Airport (at that time just a puddle jumper) was certain to grow. There was a new project just getting started, a small business venture called Research Triangle Park, that might bring a few people into the area. Little did he know how many people! Mr. Eure went on to say, "If you boys can scratch up some option money, I'll go down to my office and personally type up an option agreement so that you can tender the option to the owner of the property." Though everyone in the community thought the two young men were crazy for trying to build a restaurant in the middle of nowhere, the Secretary of State of North Carolina, who had not practiced law in 24 years, went down to his office that Sunday evening and typed the option himself. During the construction of the Angus Barn, Mr. Eure offered encouragement and support to Thad, Jr. and Charles when they encountered various obstacles. When the borrowed money was exhausted, Mr. Eure, Sr. stepped in, and he and Mrs. Eure put their home up as collateral so that the young men could borrow an additional $40,000. Thanks to that help, the Angus Barn was able to open for business on June 28th, 1960. Thad Eure, Sr. may not have been directly involved with the operation of the Angus Barn, but his involvement was substantial. Thad, Jr. said, "My father is the best friend that I have, and I sincerely hope that my children may someday be as proud of me as I am of him. My father has a simple philosophy of life that I don't think I can live up to, but it really is a beautiful way to practice the art of living." Very simply put, his basic rules are: to think clearly without confusion; to act from honest motives; to love your fellow man, and to trust in God. While doing these things, he feels that you should also maintain a very good sense of humor and that every day you should begin that day by saying, "Every day in every way I am going to strive to be better than I was the day before." So thank you, Mr. Thad Eure, Sr., for the many things you did to help the Angus Barn, as well as the people of North Carolina. Your philosophy is an inspiration to us all.