For three generations, the Folger and Folger law firm has served clients in and around Mount Airy.

But next month, Fred Folger Jr., the last generation to run the law firm, is retiring after practicing law since 1953.

“I’m ready to move on to something else,” the Mount Airy native said. “I got to the age where I didn’t enjoy practicing law anymore, so I decided it was time to quit. I worked out of it, I guess. Most of the older lawyers don’t get all the clients as the younger folk, they go get lawyers their own age most of the time. So, it’s the evolution of things.”

Folger, who is 82, joined his family’s law firm in 1953, working alongside his grandfather, father and great-uncle until their deaths. He also served two stints as the Surry County attorney, the first one beginning in 1959. He said he couldn’t recall when the second time as county attorney was, and county officials did not return telephone calls seeking the information.

Folger is officially stepping down from Folger and Folger, which is at 129 Moore Ave., on March 15.

Both his grandfather, John H. Folger, and great-uncle, Alonzo D. Folger, served in the U.S. Congress, and Folger and his father, Fred Folger, served in the N.C. Senate. He is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, the North Carolina Bar Association and the Surry County Bar Association.

He said the Folger and Folger law firm was started by his grandfather sometime in the late 1800s or early 1900s.

With his family already involved in law, it seemed natural that he joined the family business, he said.

Folger graduated from Mount Airy High School and attended Duke University, where he earned an undergraduate degree in political science, and a law degree, and later returned to Mount Airy after graduation.

The October 2008 edition of the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce newsletter said that Folger was inducted into the Surry County Sports Hall of Fame. In 1942 he helped the Mount Airy Granite Bears to a championship after he fired a 65 yard touchdown pass, and took his game on to Duke on an athletic scholarship.

He said throughout the years, he’s worked on all types of cases including personal injury and even murder.

“I don’t know if any one of them that stands out,” he said. “One of the murder cases I was involved in was before they did away with the death penalty. That was one of the stressful ones, but now it’s rare that someone will be tried for capital punishment.”

Stress was a common aspect of his profession, and one he’ll miss the least, he said.

“I enjoyed most of everything I was doing, sometimes it was stressful, sometimes not so stressful, in a general practice here in a small town you do a little bit of everything,” he said. “When people came in with something I didn’t think I could handle in a field, I would send them to a specialist.”

Because Folger’s two adult children didn’t follow in his footsteps and go into law, Folger and Folger won’t have a fourth generation to carry it on, which Folger said is OK.

“I rather they not (get into law), it’s getting too complicated,” he said with a laugh. “I think the paperwork has changed the most. My father told me one time, ‘Son, you are getting into the business when state legislature and/or the Congress meet and change everything you thought you knew by changing the laws. But that’s the evolution of all the changes in society.’”

He said while he’s enjoyed meeting various people through his practice and developing friendships, he’s ready for the next chapter of his life.

“When I retire, this will no longer be, I’ve sold the building,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of good friends and a lot of good clients.”

Folger said he doesn’t have any big plans for retirement, and hopes to enjoy his time to do as little as possible.

“I’m going to do nothing, and probably do nothing for a long time,” he said, smiling. “I don’t think I’m going to miss much — unless I get bored. But of course, I will miss seeing the people.”