Carl Garrington Pollard

Carl Garrington Pollard was a beloved father, grandfather, and member of his Asheville community. He passed away peacefully with family by his side on Monday, February 2, 2026.

Carl was born on March 17, 1938 in Greenville, NC to Lidia Brady and Jessie Pollard. Carl, his brother, and two sisters were raised by his mother on the family farm. After graduating from Greenville High School, Carl played semi-pro baseball and put aside his dream of becoming a professional baseball player when he enrolled in the Marines. After his service, he began a career in the textile industry that brought him to Morganton, and later Asheville.

Carl’s tireless dedication and competency in his work resulted in a successful career in textiles spanning nearly 50 years. Notably, Carl served as the Vice President of Manufacturing at Lustar Dying and Finishing from 1988 to 2005. Carl oversaw the work of hundreds of Ashevillians during his time at Lustar. He was a disciplined leader, and unwavering in his insistence on respect, dignity and opportunity for all employees, regardless of race or gender, long before it was the norm and even when it was not popular among his peers.

Carl traveled the world through his work, collecting endless stories of the people who worked alongside him, translated foreign languages for him, showed him hospitality and made him laugh.

Carl was an avid golfer, and played in various pro-am tournaments throughout the years. He adored a round of golf on the weekend with “the gangsome”, his loyal group of golf buddies, and could often be spotted at the Grove Park Inn course on Sundays. Carl’s passion for sports went far beyond golf; in fact, there was nearly no sport he did
not enjoy observing. He was a loyal fan of the North Carolina Tarheels, and religiously supported the Heels at UNC basketball and football games throughout the years.

Carl will be remembered for his deep love of animals, his wry sense of humor and his loyalty to those he loved. He is survived by his five daughters; Teresa, Bobbie, Penny, Leslie and Olivia; and six grandchildren.

The family will gather for a private memorial in his honor at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Carl’s memory may be sent to the Asheville Humane Society.