1941
John William Gore Jr., Jan. 10, 2017, Taylors, S.C. Gore served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was an outside sales representative for Allison-Erin Co. and a member of White Oak Baptist Church.
1945
William S. “Jack” Dowis Jr., March 13, 2017, Florence, S.C. Dowis served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was an architect and artist. His paintings were exhibited throughout the Southeast and are part of numerous collections. He also was active in his church and in various civic organizations.
1948
James Robert Griffith Jr., April 26, 2017, Americus, Ga. Griffith spent his career in hospital administration. He held numerous leadership positions in the field and was recognized with the Palmetto Patriot Award from the lieutenant governor’s office for outstanding work in gerontology. He was a presidential nominee for the White House Council on Aging in 1995.
1950
George Kilgo Livingston Jr., April 26, 2017, Charlotte, N.C. After serving in the Korean War and earning a Bronze Star for valor, Livingston enjoyed a 37-year career with BellSouth and AT&T. He was active in the community, serving as president of both the Charleston (S.C.) Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Charlotte.
George Raymond Morgan Sr., March 3, 2017, Charlotte, N.C. Morgan was the founder of Craftsman Printing Co. and co-owner of the Antique Cupboard in Pineville, N.C.
1951
Earl F. Hoffmeister, March 7, 2017, Knoxville, Tenn. Hoffmeister served in World War II before coming to Wofford, where he played basketball and football. He had a long career in education, culminating in service as superintendent of Knox County Schools.
Dr. John Monroe “Jack” Shingler Jr., April 27, 2017, Spartanburg. Shingler retired in 1999 after 45 years as an anesthesiologist. In addition to being an active volunteer in the Spartanburg community, he did short-term medical missions work abroad and was active in the life of Trinity United Methodist Church. A U.S. Army veteran, Shingler was the recipient of the Wofford Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award for his support of nursing at Spartanburg Medical Center.
1953
Francis Sidney Hipps, April 21, 2017, Lake City, Fla. Hipps served in the Marine Corps before coming to Wofford. He spent his career working in the timber business. After retirement he earned his real estate license and worked as an agent. He also was active in his church and community.
1954
Harley H. Christopher Jr., Feb. 24, 2017, Anderson, S.C. Harley worked for Frank Myers Motors, retiring after 27 years. He also worked for South Carolina National Bank. After retirement he was active in his church and as a community volunteer. At Wofford, Christopher was a member of the Wofford Glee Club.
James Mitchell “Dasher” Ditty, May 8, 2017, Weimar, Calif. Ditty played football for the Terriers, served in the U.S. Army and pursued a career as a teacher and educator. He loved travel and outdoors activities, particularly sailing.
1955
Berry E. Adams, April 26, 2017, Easley, S.C. An avid golfer, Adams enjoyed a long career in textiles and the paper industry. He retired as executive vice president of Mount Vernon Mills, Dryer Felt Division.
1958
The Rev. Carl Nickolas Harris, March 29, 2017, Loris, S.C. Harris served in the South Carolina United Methodist Conference for 44 years, leading numerous congregations and holding national and international positions in the church. After retirement he formed the Second Mile Evangelistic Association in 2001 and the Loris Interfaith Task Force in 2002.
Daniel Edward King, Feb. 22, 2017, Forest City, N.C. King died as the result of an automobile accident. He served in the military before attending Wofford. He worked as a manager in textile mills before earning a master’s degree and becoming a guidance counselor at Chase High School. He was a lifelong active member of First United Methodist Church of Forest City.
Thomas Coburn Watson Jr., Feb. 10, 2017, Florence, S.C. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force Security Service, Watson served during the Korean War and was a member of the occupation forces in Germany. He retired from the Social Security Administration.
1960
William Hawksley Barbee, Feb. 14, 2017, Hickory, N.C. Barbee was a member of Wofford’s championship basketball team that made it to the NAIA National Quarterfinals. He was a mathematics professor for 40 years, serving at both Mercer and Elon universities.
Rupert Edward Howard, April 6, 2017, Rutherfordton, N.C. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Howard was a lifelong member of Adaville Baptist Church and was dedicated to his church and family.
Rupert LaMarr Smith, March 17, 2017, El Paso, Texas. Smith taught English for 20 years at Emory and Henry College before becoming a nurse and nurse administrator. He retired in 2008 after 25 years in his second career.
1961
Ronald Allen Shumaker Sr., April 9, 2017, Scottsdale, Ariz. Shumaker worked in banking, stocks, real estate and retail. He enjoyed tennis, reading, music, singing, performing, golf, telling jokes and his family.
1963
Larry Eugene Dent, Feb. 17, 2017, Spartanburg, S.C. A talented musician and photographer, Dent served as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot during Vietnam. He retired after a long career with the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic controller.
Dr. Laurens Warren Fort Jr., March 23, 2017, Great Falls, S.C. Fort served in the U.S. Air Force Dental Corps before returning to Great Falls to practice dentistry until his death. He was active in the life of Dearborn United Methodist Church, a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, a reserve police officer, member of the Chester County School Board and athletics photographer for the Great Falls Red Devils.
Archibald Gordon McLarty, May 8, 2017, Shelby, N.C. McLarty died after a battle with lung cancer. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at Wofford and became a golf professional at Lan-Yair Country Club after graduation. He also worked as a stockbroker and in the automotive business.
1964
Gary Mitchell “Mickey” Byrd, Feb. 24, 2017, Mechanicsville, Va. After three years in the Marine Corps, Byrd received a football scholarship to play for the Terriers. Byrd taught high school for 35 years, coaching baseball most of those. After retirement he continued to teach driver’s education classes.
Edward E. “Buddy” Cubitt, April 6, 2017, Spartanburg, S.C. Cubitt played basketball and tennis for the Terriers and enjoyed a long, successful career in real estate development, including founding Southeastern Roofing Co. and Eagle Metals. He also was an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Advent. Memorials may be made to The Buddy Cubitt Basketball Fund at Wofford.
1965
Charles Wendell McAlister, March 5, 2017, Columbia, S.C. A devoted husband, father, grandfather and basketball coach, McAlister played basketball at Wofford and was a member of Kappa Alpha Order. He was a charter member of Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church, a corpsman in the U.S. Navy and a leader in the field of residential contracting.
Dr. Thomas Wayne Riley, March 3, 2017, Charleston, S.C. Riley practiced dentistry in Summerville, S.C., until 1985 when he retired to farm full time. He served in the U.S. Army.
1966
Richard Raymond Prigmore Jr., Feb. 1, 2017, Houston, Texas. A huge sports fan, Prigmore loved Texas teams and was famous for his tailgating food and hospitality. He owned and operated Appraisal Consultants until his death.
The Rev. Dennis Earl Reid, April 9, 2017, Summerville, S.C. A retired Church of God minister, Reid pastored more than 10 churches in South Carolina during his 51-year ministry.
1967
Alyn Denny Abrams, March 25, 2017, Greenville, S.C. The retired owner of Dyna-graphics and Foxfire Gallery, Abrams was a member of Northside United Methodist Church.
Ellis Michael O’Tuel III, May 16, 2017, Bennettsville, S.C. O’Tuel died after sustaining brain trauma in a fall at his home. O’Tuel owned O’Tuel Farms and ran the family’s businesses: E.M. O’Tuel Cotton Co. Inc., O’Tuel Gin, Marlboro Warehouse Inc. and Southern Gin and Fertilizer Co. Leadership in the church and community were integral parts of his life, including helping Marlboro County implement the 911 Emergency Services system, serving as president of the United Fund of Marlboro County and serving on both the Wofford Parents Advisory Council and the Alumni Executive Council.
1968
Dr. Noah Francis Gibson IV, April 6, 2017, Danville, Va. Gibson served as a pediatrician at the U.S. Army hospital in Okinawa, Japan, and as chief of pediatrics at Moncrief Army Hospital in Fort Jackson, S.C. He was a beloved pediatrician in Danville from 1978 until his retirement in 2016, also teaching medical students at University of Virginia School of Medicine and other area universities. He was an avid violinist, helping found the Danville Symphony Orchestra and playing first violin from 1993 to 2017.
Dr. John Blanding Stewart Jr., March 18, 2017, Santa Fe, N.M. Stewart died after a yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer. He served in the U.S. Army in Alaska and taught English as a second language in Milan and Jerusalem before becoming a clinical psychologist. He worked at the Dayton Mental Health Center in Ohio for the majority of his career.
Franklin James Talley Jr., March 6, 2017, Moore, S.C. Talley came to Wofford to play basketball and returned after graduation to coach at Wofford for a few years. He later taught history and coached at Dorman High School. He retired after 20 years with Spartan Foods Systems. He was a huge fan of Wofford athletics and a leader in the Terrier Club.
1969
William John Lyne, April 15, 2017, Hendersonville, N.C. Lyne worked in education, then worked in the furniture industry.
1971
Charles Summerall Holley, March 1, 2017, Birmingham, Ala. Holley was happiest enjoying family, a little mischief and sharing tall tales. He was active in his church and community.
1972
David Michael Sidbury, March 6, 2017, Awendaw, S.C. Sidbury learned the construction business from his father, later founding a successful commercial construction and development firm.
1973
Dr. William L. Patterson, May 13, 2017, Jacksonville, Fla. Patterson continued the dental practice that his father built, maintaining loyalty to the clients and staff for more than 45 years. He retired in 2015.
1981
Henry Monroe Whitesides Jr., April 11, 2017, Belmont, N.C. Whitesides was a Sigma Nu at Wofford. He owned a law firm and was the legal voice of WBT talk radio. He also was active in Parkwood Baptist Church.
David Lynn Wilson, March 30, 2017, Seneca, S.C. Wilson was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at Wofford and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army upon graduation. He retired as a major after serving 20 years in the South Carolina Army National Guard. He served on the Terrier Club Board of Directors and worked in property development and management. Wilson was an avid cyclist, who died tragically while cycling. He is the father of a current student, Sarah Wilson ’18.
1987
Dr. Stephen Hinston Bell, April 17, 2017, Kennesaw, Ga. Bell was a mathematics professor at Kennesaw State University until 2016.
Friends
Duane Austin “Doc” Stober, March 25, 2017, Spartanburg, S.C. Stober retired from the Wofford Department of Athletics after a long career as the college’s athletics trainer. He started the training program at USC-Upstate. His wife, Audrey Hanson Stober, died on March 16, 2017. An educator, she started the home economics program at Charles Lea Center. The Stobers were faithful members of St. James United Methodist Church and enjoyed coming to Wofford athletics events and seeing old friends.