Walter Olin Nisbet III ’63

Walter Olin Nisbet III ’63 of Charlotte died at home on June 25 from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease. Following in his father’s footsteps, he graduated from Davidson College. At Davidson, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Following graduation in 1963, he served in the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant 1963–65 and attended Harvard University where he earned an M.B.A. Returning to Charlotte, he was employed by Interstate Securities and in 1973, founded Sterling Capital Management, an investment management firm, where he served as president, chairman, and director until he retired in 2000. He also founded the N.C. Cash Management Trust. His service on corporate boards included United Asset Management, Conner Corporation, Kitty Hawk Capital, Process Systems, Data South Computer Corporation, and Manetta Mills, Inc. Olin was greatly committed to his beloved alma mater, Davidson College, and he served as a successful leader in a number of critical endeavors focused on the future of the college. His last term as a trustee was served as chairman of the board during which he presided at the inauguration in 1997 of Davidson’s sixteenth president, Robert F. Vagt. He was the founding chairman of the board of directors of The Duke Mansion and the William States Lee Institute. Also, he was a founding director of the World T.E.A.M. Sports, a trustee of Episcopal High School, and a member and deacon of the Myers Park Presbyterian Church. Survivors include his wife, Marian McGowan Nisbet, 401 Hermitage Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28207, two sons, W. Olin “Chip” Nisbet IV ’86 and his wife Amanda, of New York City, and William McGowan Nisbet and his wife Lynne of Charleston, S.C., and two grandchildren, Alannah and Travers Nisbet of New York City. He is also survived by two sisters, Rebecca Nisbet Rencher, and Jane Nisbet Goode and her husband Seddon ‘Rusty’ Goode ’54. His legacy is that of a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather and a loyal friend, as well as a respected businessman and investor, and a generous supporter of his community he so loved. We will always remember his engaging smile and his infectious laugh. Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, can be made to the W. Olin and Marian Nisbet Scholarship at Davidson College, Box 7174, Davidson, N.C. 28035, or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Charlotte, 1420 East 7th Street, Charlotte, NC 28204.