Clifton Edward Pleasants Sr. was born in 1910, in Guilford County, to Edward Oliver and Lida Cozart Thomas Pleasants.
He graduated from R. J. Reynolds High School and from the University of North Carolina.
His father opened a horse-and-buggy supply store on Trade Street in 1913. According to family members, the business made harnesses upstairs at night to sell downstairs during the day. At some point, by the time Clifton began working in the family business in 1931, the focus had changed from harnesses to hardware.
Pleasants Hardware Store was located on the corner of Trade and Sixth Streets for many years. The Pleasants Pro Hardware Supply and Service Center opened in 1960 on Northwest Boulevard.
Clifton retired in 1981 as chairman and president of the company, and his son, Clifton Edward Pleasants Jr., took over the family business. The retail store closed about 1997, but they continued to operate a contract-sales business for making doors.
Clifton believed in being involved in his community, and he served on many corporate and civic boards. He was a member of the city-county planning board from 1966-1974. He was also an active member of Centenary Methodist Church.
He passed away in 1998.
Photo courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.
