Plato “Tete” Pearson, Jr. was born October 13, 1924 in Gastonia, NC. He married Betty Ann Epps Pearson on January 1, 1949 and together they raised four children: Martin, Rob, Steve, and Joe. They are the proud grandparents of thirteen, and great grand parents of two. Tete served in the Infantry during World War II and moved across France several months after the Normandy invasion. He was wounded in combat and returned to the United States to attend West Point. After the war, he graduated from Davidson College and returned to Gastonia to work in the family oil business. He has spent six decades as a business, church and community leader in Gaston County.