Dr. Edwin G. Speir , Jr., most recently from Banner Elk, N.C., died in Milledgeville on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014. He was 80-years-old and was born Oct. 16, 1934 in Charlotte, N.C. His mother, Martha Galloway Speir, and father, Edwin G. Speir, and family migrated to the New York and Connecticut area for his elementary and high school years.
A move to Morganton, N.C. in 1951 led to his entering Davidson College. He completed a B.S. in economics and later served two years with the U.S. Army in France. He returned to attend Harvard Business School and worked for Speir Textiles Inc. for three years. In 1961 he and his wife, Sue Purvis Speir, of Cornelia moved to Denver. He received his doctoral degree from the University of Denver Graduate School of International Studies in 1965. The same year he became a foreign service officer and was assigned as a programming officer with the Peace Corps in Brazil.
Following his return to the U.S. he served in academic administration as well as faculty appointments at UNC-Asheville, Coker College in S.C., UW-Whitewater as Vice-Chancellor and in 1981 was appointed president of Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. He worked with the chancellor and regents, as well as faculty and staff, to accept the new mission of being designated the Public Liberal Arts University of Georgia. He retired in 1997.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sue Purvis Speir; and three daughters, Sarah Speir of Americus, Jennifer Speir-Hearn of Atlanta, and Lynn Speir of Atlanta; three grandsons; and one granddaughter; and a sister, Anne Speir Bruce of Greenville, S.C.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Williams Funeral Home, 1670 N. Jefferson St., Milledgeville, GA 31061.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice. Express online condolences at www.williamsfuneralhome.net. Williams Funeral Home of Milledgeville has charge of arrangements.