Marshall Rauch talks Christmas ornaments, playing at Duke and turning 100

A conversation with Gastonia's Marshall Rauch involves plenty of self-depreciating humor, a dose of humility over what he calls his good luck in life, and an explanation of what motivated him to enter political life.

But intermingled with his easy way comes small gems of wisdom and insight, such as the value he places on making personal connections and how all those seemingly small interactions woven together ended with a him feeling he has lived a life well spent as he eyes his 100th birthday Thursday, Feb. 2.

"In Judiasm, there are eight degrees of charity," Rauch starts off saying, "and the highest and best charity you can do is to help someone in a manner that they don't need help anymore, such as helping someone get into a business or obtaining an education.

"And I have enjoyed that privilege many times."

Rauch never lost his New York accent despite living all of his adult life in Gaston County. He married a hometown girl, Jeanne Girard Rauch, whom he literally picked out of the stands while playing basketball for Duke University. He and his late wife, who died in August 2010, were married 64 years, and had five children.

He was successful in business, making a fortune in manufacturing Christmas ornaments, an unexpected career considering his Jewish faith. He carved out a 38-year-political career, the first 14 years on Gastonia City Council, the final 24 in the North Carolina Senate, ending in 1990.

But Rauch also contributed to life in Gaston County in many other ways. Before Gaston County Schools began teaching black and white students in the same classrooms, Rauch and a black pharmacist, Norman "N.A." Smith, worked together to ease tensions, and both men are credited with helping that transition go smoothly.

"My life has been a series of good luck," he said.

The Gazette sat down with Rauch in the library at Covenant Village, where he has lived the past 17 years, just more than two weeks before his 100th birthday. Rauch's last business venture, he says, ended a few years ago when he helped grandson, Julian, start Edgeway Pharmacy in Cramerton.

College football fans will remember Julian Rauch for his 2007 field goal that helped Appalachian State University beat Michigan, a win Sports Illustrated named the greatest upset ever in college football history.

A minor injury has kept Rauch from the community gym, but he says he wants to get back when he can. He uses a wheelchair now to help him with mobility, but remains strong enough to get out of his seat and walk to a more comfortable chair.

And yes, Rauch still eats pasta and ice cream almost every day, which daughter, Stephanie, credits with his long life.

"I don't know," Rauch says about his longevity. "I never had any bad habits, and I think my father living to 10 days before his 99th birthday and my great-grandfather living to 104 has a lot to do about it."

These days, Rauch mostly enjoys spending time with his family.

"I'm very fortunate," he said. "I have three (living) children, I have eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and two great-great-great-grandchildren. I've got family."

And when he celebrates his 100th birthday, Rauch will give each of those 10 great-great-grandchildren a book he authored, "Success is a Team Sport."

"Wouldn't you want to read a book your great-great-grandfather wrote?" Rauch asks.

An hourlong conversation with Rauch goes by quickly. He remains remarkably sharp, recalling dates and people he has met in his long life. Rather than boastful on his accomplishments, he sounds genuinely grateful for the things that turned out right in his life.

Rauch has helped many people in his life, daughter Stephanie says, but those good deeds don't get spoken about.

"I never worked a day in my life," Rauch says. "I enjoyed every bit of it."

More from Rauch

In today's basketball it seems most of the players are specialists, Rauch says. Teams have their 3-point shooters, their rebounders and their defensive specialists, but Rauch was known as a "closer" in his year playing on the varsity team.

"What a closer does, if Duke got 20 points ahead or 20 points behind with 20 seconds left in the game, Coach Cameron would call out and say, 'Rauch, you go in and close out the game.'"

Back in the day, college freshman were not allowed to play varsity basketball, and Rauch's freshman team in 1940 was the first to use Duke Indoor Stadium, which was renamed Cameron Indoor Stadium in 1972.

World War II would end Rauch's basketball career and also his college education. He had joined the Air Reserves in college and was drafted in his junior year.

Rauch did inquire about returning to Duke once to finish his degree while also serving in the state Senate in Raleigh. Administrators at Duke University were less than encouraging.

"They said, 'All the math courses you took here they now teach in high school,'" Rauch said.

Rauch has been awarded two honorary doctorate degrees, including one from Belmont Abbey College.

Christmas ornaments

A man Rauch did not know at the time, Bill Spiegel of Spiegel Catalog fame, called him with a proposition. At the time Rauch owned a small textile company.

"He told me if I could wrap that rayon thread around Christmas ornaments, we'd both make a lot of money," Rauch said.

From that first order with Spiegel Catalog, Rauch Industries grew to 1,400 employees at six different plants in five different countries. At one time Rauch Industries was one of the largest Christmas manufacturers in the world. Rauch would eventually take the company public and made a fortune when it was acquired in 1996.

"That was when the aluminum Christmas trees first came out," Rauch said of the start of his company. "Those satin Christmas ornaments looked great on those aluminum trees."

Meeting his wife

Rauch met his future wife after a teammate, Cedric Loftis, pointed her out in the stands.

"It was my freshman year, and I had been playing basketball. I just finished a game with Cedric (Loftis) and we're sitting on the bench and he said, 'See that girl up there? You ought to meet her.' She was a freshman there too. And a connection was made," Rauch recalled in an earlier interview.

Growing old

While thankful for his good health and comfortable life, some things Rauch has not been able to avoid.

"As you live longer, you lose so many friends and family," Rauch said. "That's always hard."

You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-201-7016 or Kellis@gastongazette.com. Support local journalism by subscribing here.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Marshall Rauch talks Duke basketball, Christmas ornaments, turning 100