Michael Owen Porter Jr.

Michael Owen Porter Jr. was blessed with an abundance of leadership qualities. It would be accurate to say that this man was an outstanding luminary and that his natural abilities served him well. He knew with certainty how he wanted to set priorities in all aspects of his life. He struck those who knew him as the kind of person who awoke in the morning with a clear direction of what he expected from his day and how to set about accomplishing his goals. Michael was a man who definitely liked order and was most comfortable with an organized and structured lifestyle. When this climate was absent, Michael would set about immediately to create it.

Michael was born and raised in Savannah, GA to Michael Sr. and Diana Porter. He was brought up to be reasonable in his actions and to use his intellect wisely. He was an explorative child who loved being outdoors as much as he could, traits that carried on into his adult life. Even at a young age, Michael was an adventurous problem solver.

Michael was raised with his one younger brother, Milton. Michael served as a role model and always tried to encourage his brother to be confident. He often found himself influencing his brother in ways, sometimes mischievous, but always in good fun. His brother was his best friend growing up, and they loved reflecting on their fond memories as kids. Their dad would often take the two to Tybee Island to surf which was their favorite pastime.

Michael's enthusiasm for learning and the energy that enthusiasm generated led to him exhibiting leadership qualities early on in his childhood. When it came to academics and school, he was able to create a system for getting his class work done in a proper and timely manner. He liked to see things executed properly and showed a skill for taking control of situations that were drifting out of control. With a strong ability to analyze his schoolwork and assignments, he could apply a practical, common sense approach completing his studies. He showed a natural curiosity in the manner in which he tackled new types of problems and would regularly challenge his own reasoning ability in finding solutions. During his senior year, he was voted “Most Likely to Succeed”.

The work habits and approaches to studying that Michael utilized in high school also served him well in college. Michael always seemed on a quest for knowledge. He was able to generalize, summarize and compile information for his classes, employing a matter-of-fact approach. Michael was intuitive and mentally alert, and seemed to crave the challenge of solving complex problems. He joined the fraternity Alpha Sigma Phi as a sophomore, where he gained more experience with leadership and philanthropy. He earned his business degree from Emory University in Atlanta in 1962. He also pursued graduate school, earning his MBA in 1966.

As Michael knew in other aspects of his life, he had a clear vision of what he sought in a relationship and worked hard to achieve it. Candace became a significant part of his life soon after they’d met in college, and three years later after he completed his Masters degree, they planned a destination wedding in Charleston, SC where most of Candace’s family resided. Michael's secret to success was that he always kept the lines of communication open in the marriage and applied the important skill of being a good listener. The couple had often visited Charleston together and had plans of relocating to the coastal town after their wedding.

Family and children were important to Michael and Candace. They had two children, one son, Michael III, and one daughter, Savannah who was named after his lovely hometown. After their kids grew up and left the nest, they were also blessed with three grandchildren, Logan, Taylor, and Ariel. Michael was able to keep order in the family by using the same efficient and straightforward methods with the family as he did at work. Michael rarely made a scene when it came to discipline. Instead, he was subtle and patient in his dealings when teaching the children right from wrong.

Michael was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. His family was rounded out by two german shepherds, Jake and Roxy.

Not only did Michael find pleasure in pursuing his various hobbies, he also enjoyed the discovery and research involved in learning about them. His skill at problem solving had a positive influence on these activities as well. He loved being outdoors whenever he could. His favorite pursuits were surfing, scuba diving, sailing, hiking, and golf. He was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed following his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. He was always rooting for the Georgia Bulldogs or watching professional golf on ESPN.

Traveling for vacation was another way for Michael to apply his exceptional leadership and organizational skills. He liked exploring different places but also enjoyed designing and scheduling the family trips in advance. He had real talent for developing the perfect itineraries. His favorite destinations included Hilton Head, SC, St. Augustine, FL, Disney World, and some overseas trips. He and Candace honeymooned in Australia, diving the Great Barrier Reef together, and one summer they took the kids on a Caribbean cruise around the British Virgin Islands.

At work Michael was viewed as a natural leader. He was one of the founders of a family business in the early 70s called Porter Trading, LLC, where he filled the role of CFO and was responsible for managing the financial actions of the company. He was great at developing strategies and made maximum progress with little wasted effort. Michael was also adept at uncovering new and more efficient ways of getting things done. He was able to establish and meet objectives and schedules through long range planning and was always able to keep the big picture clearly in sight. Although Michael might have been described by some as an overachiever, he was without question dedicated and an asset to the company. He worked in the business for 23 years and was able to retire by age 55.

When Michael's retirement finally came in 1995, he was well prepared. He had worked out all of the details well in advance and had always planned on retiring early so that he and his wife could continue their travels. His new life involved relocating to St. Simons Island, GA where he had connections with some lifelong friends. In retirement, he continued to find pleasure in golf and being outdoors in any way he could. He also began and woodworking as a new hobby once he reached the age of it being hard to travel. Always a well-informed person, Michael enjoyed adding to his wealth of knowledge. He enjoyed reading books of any kind while sitting on the porch in his rocking chair when the weather was nice. Retirement afforded him the time to enjoy that experience and provided one more opportunity to look ahead at what life might offer him.

Michael passed away peacefully surrounded by his friends and family on March 28, 2020. He is survived by his two children Ben and Savannah, and his three grandchildren.

Michael Owen Porter Jr. knew what he wanted from life and never hesitated in going after it. He could be characterized as a driven individual, someone who understood the importance of achievement. Michael was decisive and outspoken at times but was also positive and upbeat about most things. He was a leader, both intentionally and sometimes by default. If he saw that something needed to be done, he was always ready to step up and actualize, organize and implement a plan. He will be remembered fondly by all who knew him.