Sidney Whitfield Minor, Sr. was born on November 24, 1873, in Oxford, North Carolina. During World War I, Minor held the rank of colonel and was commander of the 120th Infantry Regiment. For his meritorious display of leadership during his regiment's successful assault on the Hindenburg Line, Minor was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal. Later in life he was the vice-president and treasurer of the Dibrell Brothers Tobacco Company in Danville, Virginia. Minor died in Danville on June 22, 1945.