Randy Vines –
Making The World Around Him A Better Place

By Sherrie Norris

A man of honor, working to make the world around him a better place – that’s Randy Vines. Photo by Sherrie Norris

Watauga County native Randy Vines is an unassuming individual who goes about his business as a man of honor in his community. Always the first to offer a hand to a neighbor or friend in need, Vines lives by the golden rule, something he learned as a young boy and a lesson he’s never forgotten. While doing good for others seems to come natural for this husband and father of two adult daughters, Vines has left an impressive trail in his lifetime, serving not only his church and community with a deep sense of commitment, but his country as well, through 22 years with the 1451st Transportation Company of The NC National Guard, a big part of which was during Desert Storm. When Vines joined the Guard as a truck driver in 1970, the local unit was known as the 120th Infantry but changed to Transportation two years later. He was an E-6 (Staff Sgt.) when he retired in 1992.

A graduate of Watauga High School, Vines attended ASU for one year but was anxious to get started in “the real world.” He began a lengthy employment with Fox Brothers Moving and Storage in 1966. Since 1993, he has been employed in apartment maintenance with Holton Mountain Rentals of Boone, and as a valuable member of Holton’s crew, helps care for approximately 600 units. Many of the tenants he works around are college students, youngsters he sees coming into Boone their freshman year whose departure he witnesses four years later. In the meantime, he always has a smile and a friendly word of encouragement to the young and old alike. His coworkers tell us he is a highly skilled professional who always gets the job done right the first time, and is one upon which they all highly depend. Sandra Stanbery, longtime bookkeeper at Holtons, says that Vines is not only a great co-worker, but just like a brother to her. “Through all the years I’ve known Randy, I have never seen his integrity questioned by anyone. He is one of the finest people I know - highly respected by everyone who knows him and always goes out of his way for other people.” Stanbery recalled many times when her family had experienced tragedy through death or unexpected trauma, Vines has always been the first to offer his support. “Even when new people come to work with us, they instantly warm up to him like they’ve know him all their lives. He’s just that kind of a person.” Through the years, Stanbery relates, their families have become the best of friends. “He is a true friend, a gentleman in every situation.” Like others who know him, she admits to having seen his mischevious streak, “But it’s always in the right way – he has never gone over the line, no matter what.”

Married for nearly 35 years to the former Pat Penley, assistant vice-president at BB&T in Boone, the couple are parents to the newly married Stacie Pless, a CPA in Lexington and Jamie Vines of Foscoe, who works at High Country Bank in Boone.

The son of the late James and Eula Vines, he has two sisters, Karen Helms and Beth Ball and one brother Eric. Vines enjoys a “close” relationship with his siblings, living next door to Beth’s family as well as Eric, who now occupies the home in which they all were raised. Keeping the family garden vibrant is a combined effort of the Vines family and one in which Randy takes great pride. Always a conversation piece to those passing by George Wilson Road, it has been, for years, as a show piece right out of a home and garden magazine. His love for gardening and appreciation for hard work, are just two of the many admirable traits he inherited from his hard-working parents.

Another important part of his life is his role in the Masons and Shrine Club. A member of the Snow Lodge #63, The Winston Salem Scottish Rite and the Oasis Temple of the Shrine, Vines lives an exemplary life as is required by the organizations. As the oldest and largest fraternity in the world, the Masons require men to be honorable, teaching that as a principle. In fact, Masons believe that a life not founded on honor is hollow and empty - that a man who acts without honor is less than a man. Masonry also teaches that each man has a duty not only to himself but to others, doing everything they can to make the world a better place. Certainly, Randy Vines not only meets that criteria but far exceeds it in his daily walk. In order to become a Shriner, a man must first be a Mason. In reaching the highest degree of Master Mason (the Third Degree), Vines was Master of the local Lodge in 1998 and has served as the President of the Shrine Club, currently he chairs the annual paper sale/fund drive held on the first Saturday of each May.

The Shriners are described as ‘a brotherhood of men … dedicated to fun and fellowship…but with a serious purpose” - that of supporting Shriners Hospitals for Children - burn centers, orthopedic facilities, etc.” Since the first Shriners Hospital opened in 1922, they have cured or substantially helped more than 600,000 children - all at no cost to the parent or child. Vines is always at the forefront of fundraising activities and visits the hospitals with fellow members, remaining in close contact on a routine basis.

As an active lifetime member of Oak Grove Baptist Church, Vines has served on the Deacon Board and in numerous other capacities, “anywhere I’m needed,” he told us. A spokesperson for Oak Grove stated, “Randy has served on most committees at one time or another. He is currently serving on the Pastor Search committee which is taking a lot of time and effort. He can always be counted on for anything at any time.”

Doug Wallace, owner of Wallace Propane in Boone, has known Vines for over 30 years. Proud to call him “friend,” he shares that he has never seen Randy lose his Christian witness, regardless of the circumstance. “When it’s all said and done about any of us, that’s all that really matters in the end.” Wallace added. He and Vines have breakfast together every Saturday morning. He says with a chuckle, “I know Randy is a good husband because he won’t let me call his wife and wake her up.”

Vines and his family enjoy traveling and spent time in New Orleans, before Katrina, serving the needs of the less-fortunate in a missions-oriented capacity that they planned and organized independently. After the devastating hurricane two years ago, he made another mission trip to Mississippi to help repair damaged homes.

Whether near or far, Randy Vines is on a mission – to help his fellow man. When asked about any hobbies, he just smiled and said he loved to work. He later admitted he enjoyed NASCAR racing and is a Jeff Burton fan.