In Memoriam, MICHAEL ANDREW SCHLOSSER

MICHAEL ANDREW SCHLOSSER

May 1, 1945 – February 6, 2024

 

 

Michael Andrew Schlosser died on February 6, 2024, at Pennybyrn.  Mike Schlosser was born in Greensboro on May 1, 1945, the son of the late Rachel Wyrick Schlosser and William J. Schlosser.  Mike graduated from Greensboro Senior High School (now Grimsley Senior High School) in 1963 and from The Virginia Military Institute in 1967.  He was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army Paratrooper Corps, and served a tour of duty in South Vietnam during the Vietnam conflict.  Decades later, in 2014, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and amyloidosis as a result of his exposure to Agent Orange.  

When he returned from Vietnam, Mike taught and coached junior high school football at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia.  Hargrave had a record of 0-60 for the six previous seasons, but Coach Schlosser led the team to a 1-9 record during his first and only season at the helm.  He decided it might be better to exit the coaching ranks and go to law school.

Mike graduated from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1974 and went to work as an Assistant District Attorney in Guilford County.  He served in that role for five years, before resigning to run for and being elected District Attorney for Guilford County in 1978.

District Attorney Schlosser would want to be remembered for having strong support from law enforcement and for an even-handed approach to prosecutions.  He took to heart his oath to have the criminal laws fairly and impartially administered and always aimed to uphold the integrity of the courts.

Mike was proud of the prosecutors he led in the District Attorney’s office.  Alumni from his staff include two District Court judges, a North Carolina Superior Court judge, a Clerk of Superior Court, a District Attorney, a Senior Deputy Attorney General for the State of North Carolina and Director of the State Bureau of Investigation, and a United States District Attorney and justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.   

Toward the end of Mike’s term as District Attorney, he was introduced to UNCG graduate student Rebecca Heafner, whom he called “the finest girl in the Carolinas.”  Mike and Rebecca were married a year later at Jackson Memorial Hall on the campus of VMI, with Mike’s son Drew serving as ring bearer.

Mike’s private law practice flourished, and Rebecca became active in the community.  Their son David was born in 1985, bringing enormous life and spirit to the family; his unexpected death at age 25 brought unspeakable heartache.

Mike served his community early on as an advisor for the Young Lawyers Explorer Post sponsored by the Greensboro Bar Association.  He was a founding member of the Guilford College Rotary Club and served on the boards of the Greensboro Mental Health Association, Family Service of the Piedmont, and the Association of Retarded Citizens.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, his brother William “Billy” Schlosser, Jr., his sister Linda Schlosser Tasker, and his son David.  He is survived by his wife Rebecca; his son Michael Andrew “Drew” Schlosser, Jr. and his wife Angelique and their sons Andrew, Hudson and Knox, all of Southlake, Texas.  Mike’s grandsons called him “Gee” and Gee enjoyed reading Greek mythology to them whenever they gathered.  Mike is also survived by his brother James E. Schlosser and his wife Sharon of Greensboro.