Service for Gene Bobo set for Monday

GAINESVILLE - A celebration of life will be held Monday for a Gainesville man who was a retired textile executive but was also a longtime Boy Scout leader.

F.E. "Gene" Bobo, who worked for Chadbourn Hoisery, died Wednesday at Northeast Georgia Medical Center following a sudden illness at the age of 94.

Bobo and colleagues, Bill Leath, Robert M. Matthews, and Claude Bagwell were jointly responsible for the invention and development of stretch nylon hosiery. They obtained at least seven U.S. Patents from 1955 to 1963 for Chadbourn Hosiery. Gene served as President of Chadbourn Industries up to the time of his retirement in 1978. Later he joined with Peter J. Mallen to found a new textile venture, Mallen Industries, Inc. in Norcross.

After arriving in Gainesville following graduation from Clemson University, Bobo was approached to lead Boy Scout Troop 26 of the Gainesville First Baptist Church as Scoutmaster. He accepted, and this led to a lifelong love and devotion to Scouting. He became a successful and beloved Scoutmaster. At one point his Troop produced 10 Eagle Scouts in one year.

With his friend and fellow Scouter, James E. Mathis, Sr., of Gainesville, the two became mentors and lifelong advisors to an untold number of young men in the Gainesville area. Bobo's service to the Boy Scouts includes Scoutmaster, Troop 26 from 1938

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