John Calvin Brantley III

John was a native and nearly life-long resident of Raleigh, graduating from Needham Broughton High School in 1960. He attended North Carolina State University, graduating with a B.S. in civil engineering with a construction option in 1964. He also attended graduate school at Northwestern University, receiving an MSCE, and studied at the University of California, Berkeley.

John began his career with the Federal Aviation Administration in 1966. He later worked with Wilbur Smith & Associates, an international consulting engineering firm in Columbia, S.C. For six years he also operated his own consulting firm specializing in airport planning and design.

Hired to manage development of a long-range plan at RDU in late 1977, John became the airport director in October 1982. During his 29-year tenure in that role, he led construction of a 10,000-foot runway, American Airlines’ hub facilities, new air cargo and general aviation developments, roadways and parking garages, Terminal 2, and redevelopment of Terminal 1. His leadership transformed RDU from its small World War II roots to the gateway to the Research Triangle region it is today.

Between 1982 and 2016, John taught a course on airport planning and design at N.C. State University in the Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering (CCEE) Department as an adjunct professor. In addition to teaching, he co-founded the CCEE Advisory Board , is a Life Member of the NC State Alumni Association, a longtime member of the Wolfpack Club and donor to the CCEE Department. In November of 2018, John was inducted to the CCEE Hall of Fame. The department recognized him as a distinguished professor in 2019.

John and his family established the John C. Brantley IV Alumni Memorial Scholarship in Civil/Construction Engineering in honor of his late son John C. Brantley IV who died in 1991.

He also established the Bruce E. Matthews Memorial Scholarship in Civil/Transportation Engineering in honor of his friend and colleague Bruce E. Matthews.

Following his retirement from RDU in November 2011, John served as a Trustee of Barton College and on the board of directors of the Research Triangle Foundation (RTF). At RTF, John shared his expertise for developing Park Center, a multi-use Park with residential, commercial and office space.

John was a member and past president and director of the Raleigh Kiwanis Club, a member and past president of the Board of the Raleigh Rescue Mission, a past member of the N.C. Airports Association, a member of the Southeastern Airport Managers Association and the Southeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives and a past member of the Airports Council International.

In his lifetime, John was the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions which he humbly accepted. These awards were either in recognition to his aviation profession, to the advancement of his local, state, national and global community or to his service to higher education. John and his wife Marilyn also were supporters of many nonprofit organizations across the region.

John was preceded in death by his son John Calvin Brantley IV, his daughter Angel Brantley, and his parents John C. Brantley, Jr and Elizabeth. His father and grandfather were proprietors of the former Brantley and Sons Drug Store.

John is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Marilyn Martineau Brantley; his sons Robert Christian Brantley (Tabatha) and Brian Carr Brantley (Christine); grandsons who he was incredibly proud of Blake Brantley, Harrison Criss, and John Brantley; and his best friend and brother Andrew Brantley (Carol).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John’s honor to the Raleigh Rescue Mission or the American Heart Association.

Calling hours were held on Friday, May 9, 2025, at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh, NC 27605. Following a private interment, John was laid to rest at Oakwood Cemetery. In honor of his life a memorial service was held at First Baptist Church of Raleigh, at 11:00 AM on May 10, 2025. The Brantley family received in the fellowship hall.

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, is serving the Brantley family.