By Nicky Smith
August 10, 2025

It’s with a heavy heart that I reflect on the passing of Jim Melvin this morning. Jim wasn’t just a former mayor or business leader; he was a man who embodied what it means to serve others and build something lasting for future generations.

I’ve long admired Jim’s incredible journey from humble beginnings in Greensboro’s Warnersville community to becoming one of the most influential figures in our city’s modern development. His decade as mayor from 1971 to 1981 transformed Greensboro during a time of both tremendous growth and significant challenges. But what always struck me most about Jim wasn’t his titles or accolades—it was his genuine commitment to making life better for others.

Just a few weeks ago, I had the wonderful fortune of sharing lunch with Jim at one of his favorite spots in Bryan Park, where we enjoyed a simple meal of hot dogs and chips. Even in his 90s, his passion for Greensboro’s future was infectious. We discussed the Toyota megasite project—something he had worked on for over a decade, and his eyes still lit up when he talked about what it would mean for our community’s economic future.

That lunch perfectly captured who Jim was: a man who could envision billion-dollar manufacturing projects while still finding joy in a hot dog at the park. He understood that true leadership isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about consistent service, one conversation and one relationship at a time.

As he once said, reflecting the wisdom his mother and the Jaycees taught him: “If you do something for somebody else, you keep it forever.” Jim Melvin dedicated a lifetime of service, and our community is immeasurably better because of it.

His optimism about Greensboro’s next decade being “the best 10 years we’ve had in a long time” wasn’t just wishful thinking—it was the vision of a man who had spent 90 years working to make that future possible. While Jim won’t be here to see it fully realized, his legacy lives on in every project he championed, every young person he mentored, and every life he touched along the way.

Thank you, Jim, for showing us what servant leadership truly looks like. You will be deeply missed.