Vince Perone

Vincent James Perone (December 7, 1929 - October 21, 2003) was born in Hackensack, New Jersey. He was a son of the late James and Jennie De Francesco Perone. Perone moved to Greenville, South Carolina in 1949 on a Furman University football scholarship, where he lettered in football for three years, was named co-captain of the football team in 1953 and was named to the All State and All Southern Conference teams that same year. He was later inducted into the Furman University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Following the Korean War, Perone served with the U.S. Marines, then returned to Furman and graduated in 1954 with a degree in business. From 1958 until 1962, he was assistant line coach at Furman. He also opened his first delicatessen in 1958 off of Highway 291 in Greenville, SC, which was the beginning of a very successful restaurant business, where he is still recognized as a pioneer in the industry.
Vince Perone's Restaurant opened in 1961, followed by The Forum in 1972. This restaurant was host to many celebrities and politicians, including Ronald Reagan, when he was campaigning for the presidency in 1980.
In 1985, Perone remodeled The Forum, opening The Greenville City Club. In 1996, he sold all of his restaurant interests and formed a relationship with Bi-Lo Stores, where he oversaw quality control of the products that bear his name.
In 1981, Perone received the Small Businessman of the Year award from the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. He is a past director of the Chamber. He was chairman of the Major Corporations' Division of the 1989 United Way Campaign. He was a former president of The Greenville Touchdown Club.
Vince Perone also has served on the board of directors of The March of Dimes, the Greenville YMCA, South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, Furman University Athletic Hall of Fame and the board of Palmetto Bank.
Along with his good friends, Dan Joyner and the late Lewis Williams, Perone was instrumental in raising funds and the construction of Paladin Stadium on the Furman University campus. In 1988, he organized the "Parade of Champions" honoring the national champion Furman Paladins following their championship game.
Greenville City Council issued a special proclamation recognizing Mr. Perone for his contributions to the community. The proclamation names the intersection of Pleasantburg and East Antrim drives as Vince Perone Corners. The intersection is the site where he established his restaurant and spurred development along the Pleasantburg Drive and Laurens Road corridors.
As much time as Mr. Perone dedicated to his alma mater and his community, he made it possible to give even more time to his family and his friends. He was married for more than 50 years to his high school sweetheart, Joyce Schiebner, who survives him along with his son and daughter-in-law, Vince and Jill Perone; and his son, Steve Perone, all of Greenville; and his daughter and son-in-law, Sheri Perone Meredith and Tom Meredith, of Dallas. He also is survived by seven grandchildren, Michael, Stephanie, Jennifer, Marisa and Kristina Perone, of Greenville, and Jack and Will Meredith, of Dallas; his sister, Theresa Fritz, and brother-in-law, Emil Fritz, his former business partner, all of Greenville; and two brothers, Carl Perone and John Perone, both of Florida.
Vincent James Perone died October 21, 2003, after a gallant battle with a rare blood disease. He was 73.

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