William Bulgin McGuire ’30, 102, of Charlotte, N.C., died on Aug. 15, 2012. He was born in Franklin, N.C., July 26, 1910, the son of Margaret Bulgin McGuire and William Boyd McGuire. He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Grace Moseley Robinson McGuire. He is survived by four children and their spouses: Elizabeth McGuire Petty (Douglas Cooper Petty); William Bulgin McGuire, Jr. ’66 (Susanne Hurst McGuire), 1227 Scotland Ave., Charlotte, NC 28207; Dr. John O’Brien McGuire ’67 (Christine McArdle McGuire); and Robert Boyd McGuire (Nancy Cooper McGuire). His survivors also include nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
McGuire is best remembered for his sharp intellect, unquestionable integrity, insightful wisdom, and humble demeanor. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and took great pride and pleasure in his family.
He graduated from Davidson in 1930. He served as senior class president and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa honorary societies and Pi Kappa Alpha social fraternity. He graduated from Duke University Law School in 1933. In his last year there he served as president of the Law School Student Bar Association and was a member of the Order of the Coif, an honorary scholastic society.
Upon graduation from law school, McGuire joined the legal department of Duke Power Company, Charlotte, N.C., and continued in the employment of that company until he retired in 1971. He served as president of the company from 1959-71. He also served as a trustee of the Duke Endowment from 1965-88 and as a member of the board of the Charlotte branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. He received honorary degrees from Davidson and Pfeiffer College.
He was a member and elder of Myers Park Presbyterian Church, except for a period of 15 years when he was a member and elder of Unity Presbyterian Church, Denver, N.C. McGuire was active in numerous civic, church, business, and professional activities including Governor Dan Moore’s Commission for the Public Schools, the Research Triangle Foundation, Junior Achievement, and the Edison Electric Institute. He was a founder and former chairman of the National Electric Reliability Council. He served as president of the Mecklenburg Bar Association and president of the N.C. Citizens Association. In 1967 he was named “Man of the Year” by the Society for the Advancement of Management, Greenville, S.C.
Memorials may be made to the William B. McGuire Scholarship fund at Davidson College, Box 7174, Davidson, NC 28035-7174.