William Henry Cobb V ’60

William Henry Cobb V ’60, 72, of Greenville, N.C., died suddenly at his home on Aug. 1. He was born April 19, 1938, in Little Rock, Ark., to the late William Henry and Faye Johnson Cobb. Cobb attended Davidson and the University of Arkansas, where he earned a B.A. degree in 1960 and an M.A. degree in history in 1962. He then earned a doctorate in history from Tulane University in 1969, specializing in 17th French diplomatic relations. He taught history at Memphis State University, Memphis, Tenn. (1963-65); Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, La. (1967-69); and East Carolina University from 1969 until his retirement in 2004. Cobb was also a guest lecturer and author of numerous grants, articles, papers, and the book Radical Education in the Rural South: Commonwealth College, 1922-1940, which won the Arkansiana Award for Best Nonfiction in 2001. As a second lieutenant, he served in the Armor XII U.S. Army Reserves. He was a lifetime member of the Arkansas Alumni Association and an avid supporter of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. Being a firm believer in the electoral process, he supported the Democratic Party in every election. Cobb was an active member of First Presbyterian Church, Greenville, N.C., where he served as elder, deacon, Sunday school teacher, and in many other capacities. He served on both local and state campus ministry boards. He was also a member of Greenville Golden K Kiwanis Club. He is survived by his wife, Cecilia Moore-Cobb, 104 Pineview Dr., Greenville, NC 27834; sons, William Henry Cobb VI ’84 and Richard Hutton Cobb (Tara Berkey); grandchildren, Mason, Caton, Emmye, Chloe, and Sullivan; stepdaughters, Peyton Hope Allain and Georgia Moore Brown (Will) and son, Hayes; adopted son, Lesley Thibodeaux; and his faithful dogs, Soo-iee and Daisy the beagle.