King, Charlie Bennett Jr.

Charles (Charlie) Bennett King, Jr.
April 15, 1945 – October 3, 2011

Charlie grew up on a tobacco farm in southern Wake County to Christine Parrish King and Charles B. King. Charlie was a loving husband to Anna P. King and endearing brother to Deborah King Mangum, Carolyn King Williamson and Tim King. Charlie will be remembered dearly for his committed service to others, strong love for family, dedicated work ethic and a heart full of compassion. Charlie enriched every life that he touched!

He graduated with an engineering degree from North Carolina State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Early in Charlie’s career he was employed by the NC Department of Agriculture as a marketing engineer and then as an area sales manager for Aro Corporation.
In 1976, Charlie began his 35 year career at Tobacco Associates, where he held the positions of secretary-treasurer and director of states relations.

Charlie was responsible for managing Tobacco Associates’ Raleigh office and fiscal affairs. He also assisted with the organization’s domestic and international promotional activities and coordinated the tobacco promotion interests with farmers and farm organizations in the U.S. flue-cured tobacco-producing states.

Charlie traveled to more than 20 countries on behalf of Tobacco Associates, meeting with industry representatives on five continents. His knowledge and experience earned him respect around the world. Some Asian customers would fondly say they had met “the king of U.S. tobacco—Mr. Charlie King.”

Charlie is remembered by friends and colleagues as a man who loved his work. He relished the opportunity to represent the interest of tobacco farmers and apply his knowledge and experience of U.S. leaf to make a difference in expanding the export market for their crop.

Outside of Charlie’s career in tobacco, many grew to love Charlie through the Village Deli in Cameron Village in Raleigh NC, which he co-owned with his brother Tim. Others met Charlie on the tennis court as a competitive player and through his longtime participation in the Raleigh Lion’s Club.

Charlie committed himself to the advancement of North Carolina Agriculture and a memorial fund was setup in his name at the NC Agricultural Foundation of the College of Agriculture.