John Lash Gilmer was born in Walnut Cove in 1872 to John Eli and Laura Lash Gilmer. His father, John Eli Gilmer, was a pioneer retail merchant in the town of Winston. When the elder Gilmer retired from business in 1893, he left the business in the hands of his sons, John Lash and Powell Gilmer. The retail business was changed to a wholesale dry goods and notion company called Gilmer Brothers.
John Lash and Powell were in business together for most of their lives. They managed the business established by their father from 1893 to 1921. John became interested in automobiles at an early age, and opened the first Buick agency in 1907. In 1924 John and Powell established the Motor Sales Company which was a distributor for Chrysler and Plymouth automobiles.
John Gilmer organized the Camel City Lines which began operation in 1926. The business started with one bus that operated from Winston-Salem, and grew quickly to 25 lines in the first year of operation. Eventually there were 100 schedules in and out of Winston-Salem on a daily basis. The Camel City Lines merged with Atlantic Greyhound, and Mr. Gilmer was elected a vice-president and general sales manager for Atlantic Greyhound.
In 1938 Atlantic Greyhound was awarded the National Bus Transportation Award for completeness and efficiency in maintenance of its buses. This was the third such award for the company since the award was started in 1930. And, in 1940, the Motor Sales Company was awarded the state’s “dealer of the year” award for record new car sales during 1939.
Mr. Gilmer was also instrumental in erecting the new bus terminal in town. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, serving as director and president.
Mr. Gilmer was married to Emma R. Jones, and they had no children. He died in 1947.
Photo courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.
