The Charlotte-area community continues to remember James Monroe “Jim” Gulley, a longtime public servant, businessman and community leader whose career included service on the Matthews Town Council and 14 years in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Gulley was born May 10, 1939, in Charlotte to Creighton Alexander Gulley and Mary Naomi Reid Gulley. He grew up in Mecklenburg County’s Woodlawn community, attended East Mecklenburg High School and later earned an electrical engineering degree from the former Charlotte College.
He built an early career in computer technology with the National Cash Register Company, where he spent 19 years and received extensive training during the early development of computer technology. He later founded Carolina Computer Systems, a Charlotte-area company that worked on motion-detection technology used in hotels and motels to help regulate heating and air-conditioning systems.
Long before entering elected office, Gulley was deeply involved in his community. He and his wife, Suzanne, helped organize the Matthews Athletic and Recreation Association when their children were young. He helped build athletic fields at Arthur Goodman Park and coached an early Pop Warner football team, earning the affectionate nickname “Coach” from people who remembered his involvement in youth sports. He also taught Sunday school at First Baptist Church of Matthews.
Gulley entered local politics in the late 1980s and was elected to the Matthews Town Council in 1993. After serving three years, he moved to state government, winning election to the North Carolina House of Representatives. He ultimately served seven terms, representing Mecklenburg County, before retiring from the General Assembly in 2010.
During his legislative career, Gulley developed a reputation for constituent service and for working on issues involving wildlife, public safety, education and government services. He chaired the House Wildlife Resources Committee and also served in leadership roles involving parks and facilities and the 2001 redistricting process. His legislative work included measures concerning crime-scene investigations, copper theft and restrictions on school-bus drivers using cellphones while driving.
Those who worked alongside him remembered Gulley as a thoughtful and respected legislator. Then-House Speaker Thom Tillis described him as a statesman whose colleagues listened when he spoke. Gulley was also honored with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of North Carolina’s highest civilian honors, for his dedication to the state. (
Outside politics, Gulley was an avid hunter and fisherman and remained closely connected to outdoor life. He also served on the board of directors of the Matthews Volunteer Fire Department and was involved in efforts that helped establish Queens Grant Charter School in Mint Hill. His commitment to the community extended well beyond his years in elected office.
Gulley died May 20, 2014, at the age of 75, from complications of Parkinson’s disease. His death prompted tributes across Matthews, Mint Hill and the wider Charlotte region. Flags at the North Carolina State Capitol were ordered lowered to half-staff in his memory, as were flags in Matthews and Mint Hill.
He was survived by his wife of more than 55 years, Suzanne Hargett Gulley; his brother, Gayle Gulley; his son, Jim Jr., and daughter, Elissa Biggs; and four grandchildren, Jessica, Erik, Everett and Emery. Family and friends gathered for a celebration of his life at First Baptist Church of Matthews in June 2014.
For the Charlotte and Matthews communities, Gulley’s legacy remains tied to years of service — as a coach and mentor, businessman, local elected official, state representative and advocate for the people he represented. His career reflected a longstanding commitment to helping others, and the tributes following his death emphasized the lasting impression he left on colleagues, friends, neighbors and constituents.
