A boost to the roost.

• Position: Influence on chief executive officers of North Carolina's 100 largest private companies

Fathers knew best, or at least wielded the biggest influence on the North Carolina 100 CEOs. Asked to identify the person who most influenced their careers, nearly a third, ranging from W. Duke Kimbrell of No. 4 Parkdale Mills to Kenneth Reesman of No. 92 Maola Milk & Ice Cream, named their dads.

In several cases, their fathers had founded the family business. Ray Manning Jr., CEO of Fayetteville-based Southeastern Hospital Supply Corp., says his late father "was instrumental in stamping his business ethic on the culture of the corporation. In succeeding him, I have endeavored to keep that culture intact."

Fathers taught their children a variety of lessons. John Thomas Jr. of High Point-based Thomas Built Buses says his father, company president until his death in 1972, "believed every employee is valuable and has something to add to the company. He taught me to listen to them, get to know them and encourage them to show initiative in the company." Annabelle Fetterman, CEO of Lundy Packing in Clinton, says her father, Burrows T. Lundy, "had the foresight and courage to set out and complete what he set out to do, to become the largest hog processor in North Carolina in his lifetime." Joseph Collie...