July 17, 2014. On June 18, Judge Robert A. Collier, Jr., was named a life member of the Oasis Shriners of Charlotte.
The 6,000 members of the organization, which covers all 50 western counties of North Carolina, voted to extend this rare honor to Collier as a way of recognizing his years of exceptional community service, W. David Sumpter, III, chief executive officer of Oasis shared.
Serving humanity is at the core of the work that Shriners, as Freemasons, perform. And, that was exemplified by Collier’s dedication to the Shriners’ work.
“I am very flattered and humbled to receive this honor from our wonderful Shrine organization — an organization that devotes itself to helping people in need, while growing and enjoying long-term friendships,” Collier shared.
Collier, who lives in Statesville, N.C., sits as senior resident judge of the Superior Court for the 22nd Judicial District of North Carolina. He was admitted to practice with the U.S. District Courts for Middle and Western Districts of N.C., U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and U.S. Supreme Court. He is a member of the Iredell County and North Carolina Bar Associations, as well as the American Judicature Society.
Collier has served as an officer and committee chairman for The North Carolina State Bar Association. He is a recognized expert on arbitration and mediation on complex legal cases. He has made presentations on arbitration and mediation to a number of conferences and professional organizations across the country.
Sumpter said that Collier was one of North Carolina’s most outstanding public servants. In that role, Collier was previously a chair of the North Carolina Board of Transportation. The board is tasked with making policy for the state’s highways and roads programs. Additionally, he served in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
He has been honored by being a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, granted to those who serve the Tar Heel State. Additionally, he garnered the Order of the Old Well for service to The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he had earned his undergraduate and law degrees.
Collier is the only judge to receive the Award of Outstanding Trial Judge in North Carolina twice given by the N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers.
He did not stop expanding his legal education. He took basic and graduate courses at the National Judicial College through the University of Nevada at Reno. He also took basic and advanced courses in arbitration and mediation through the American Arbitration Association.
His business accomplishments include: serving as president of Interstate Development Company; partnership in C & J Associates which owns Signal Hill Mall, the only mall in Iredell County; sitting as president of Credit and Loan Company; and former partnership in Collier, Harris & Collier Law Firm.
His social and fraternal achievements and memberships are many, but are not limited to, being a member of the Mt. Moriah, Masonic Lodge #690 where he has risen to the designation as a 32nd degree Mason of the Scottish Rite bodies. He has also been a member of the Rotary Club, American Legion and Royal Order of Scotland, among others.
Collier has held numerous executive and board positions In The Methodist Church, community charitable organizations in Statesville, Blowing Rock and across the state and with various clubs. And, as a member of Broad Street United Methodist Church in Statesville, he has served a a Sunday school teacher, in addition to president and trustee of the Methodist Men’s Club. Collier is a board member of the Parish Ministry Fund of Duke University Divinity School.
He now sits as a trustee of the R.J. Reynolds, III and Marie M. Reynolds Foundation.
And, Collier is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force where he was a special agent in the Office of Special Investigations.
“When called upon by his nation, his state, his community, Oasis Shriners or his neighbor, Judge Collier exemplifies Masonic principles and steps forward positively to render outstanding service. We are indeed pleased to recognize this superb member, Judge Bob Collier, as a Life Member of Oasis Shriners,” Sumpter concluded.
The Oasis Temple began in 1895. It resided in Uptown Charlotte until the late 1980s when it moved to its 55,000 square foot facility in the University City area.
Collier and his wife, Barbara, have six children and seven grandchildren.
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