Category: 1946

Robert K. Richards ’46, of Hendersonville, N.C., died September 6 at his residence after a long battle with emphysema. He was born in Scranton, Pa., to the late Richard and Anne Kiser Richards. He worked as a building contractor for most of his life. Among those that he did work for were the playwright Arthur Miller and television variety show host Ed Sullivan. He received a bachelor of science degree from Springfield College in Springfield, Mass. Prior to attending Springfield, he took courses at Davidson College. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater. He is survived by his loving wife of fifty-three years, Shirley B. Richards, 1210 Maple St., Hendersonville, N.C. 28792-3770; two sons, David T. Richards and Robert W. Richards; and daughter, Sandra J. Peschl.

William H. Morrow, Jr. ’46 of Montgomery, Ala., died August 27. He was born January 11, 1923, in West Point, son of the late William H. Morrow and Annie Laurie Neville Morrow. A graduate of West Point High School and Davidson College, he was a veteran of World War II who volunteered for military service in 1943 after three years at Davidson. He entered the Infantry, but transferred to the Army Air Corps, where he attained the rank of second lieutenant. He served as a navigator on the B-17 Flying Fortress, and flew more than twenty combat missions, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. After the war, he returned to Davidson, where he became president of Phi Gamma Delta social fraternity, and in 1944 was initiated into Phi Beta Kappa honorary scholastic fraternity. After graduation he entered Harvard Law School, where he graduated in 1952. He practiced law in California for a short time before joining the Miami, Fla., firm of Patton & Kanner, where he worked until 1965, when he came to Alabama to serve as general counsel for the Alabama State Bar, a position he held until his retirement in1987. He was preceded in death by his wife of twenty-five years, Glenice R. Morrow. Survivors include a stepson, David Knapp; and two nephews, Charles A. Nix III and William L. Nix, P.O. Box 466, West Point, Ga. 31833.

Robert Marshall Brooks ’46, of Charlotte, N.C., passed away July 17. He was born in Charlotte on Oct. 26, 1924, a son of the late Edward and Sue Brooks. He was preceded in death by a sister, Frances McCorkle, and a brother, Edward, “Bub” Brooks. He was a lifelong member of Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church and a member of the Walter J. Miller Sunday school class. While at Davidson, he was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity and captain of the baseball team. He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, he was known by his witty sense of humor and compassion. His survivors include his loving wife of nearly 60 years, Nancy Blanton Brooks, 6133 Brace Rd., Charlotte, NC 28211; daughter, Anne Mulholland, and children, Allyson and Michael Martin; daughter, Susan McCann, (Bob) and children, Catherine, Elizabeth, and Caroline McCann; and brother, Richard Brooks.

John “Jack” E. Jenkins, Jr. ’46, of Huntington, W.Va., passed away July 4. Born on Sept. 19, 1924, in Huntington, he was the son of the late John Earl and Kathleen Pitts Jenkins, and was preceded in death by his sister, Marion. He attended Davidson, Brown University, and received an A.B. and L.L.B. degrees from the University of Virginia, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Theta Chi. A WWII veteran, he served his country in the U.S. Army Air Corp. He is survived by three sons, John E. Jenkins III (Stephanie), 2300 Lora Ln., Raleigh, NC 27604-2216; James C. Jenkins (Wanda); and Evan H. Jenkins (Elizabeth); dear friend, Camille M. Riley; and seven grandchildren, John E. Jenkins IV, Amanda V. Jenkins, James C. Jenkins, Jr., Edward M. Jenkins, Evan H. Jenkins, Jr., Charles X. Jenkins, and Olivia G. Jenkins. An attorney for more than five decades, he was deeply respected by his peers in the legal profession and on many occasions was ranked among the best lawyers in America. Joining his father in the practice of law in 1950, he helped shepherd the growth and prominence of the firm Jenkins Fenstermaker, PLLC. He argued several cases before the U.S. Supreme Court of Appeals, and for 15 years, enjoyed sharing his extraordinary legal experience with the students at the West Virginia College of Law. He proudly received the Justicia Officium Award, the highest honor the College of Law can bestow a recipient, recognizing his outstanding contribution and service to the legal profession. Devoted to the betterment of his community, he left a legacy of dedicated service and touched the lives of many through his involvement in membership and charitable organizations including The Edwards Foundation, trustee; Cammack Children’s Center, past board member; Foundation for the Tri-State Community, Inc., trustee; Boy Scouts of America; Greater Tri-State Development Corporation, president; Huntington Clinical Foundation, past president; Huntington Foundation, trustee; Huntington Kiwanis Club, past president; Huntington Museum of Art, past president and trustee; City Club; Gypsy Club; Huntington Y.M.C.A., past president and trustee; Cabell-Wayne Heart Association, past president; Marshall Artist Series, past president and trustee; St. Mary’s Hospital, ethics committee and member; and United Way, past president and member. He was a member, Sunday school teacher, and elder of the First Presbyterian Church. An avid reader with an interest in current events, history, and art, he led an active lifestyle as a licensed private pilot, scuba diver, sailor, and golfer, and he traveled extensively for work and pleasure.

William C. Wilkinson II ’46 died May 27, 2007, at Bartow Regional Medical Center from heart failure. While attending Davidson, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, he was called into active service in the U.S. Army. As a second lieutenant he was a platoon leader in General Patton’s Army. He was wounded in service and returned to the states in 1944. After being discharged from the Army, he graduated from the University of Alabama and then received his M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He began his career with Jefferson Standard Life Insurance, Greensboro, N.C., as an investment officer. In the late 1950s, he moved to Bartow, where he worked for J.K. Stuart as his personal investment advisor. In the late sixties, the Wilkinsons moved back to Greensboro, where he returned to Jefferson Pilot as an executive vice president. He retired in the early eighties and the couple returned to Bartow in the late nineties where they were reunited with many wonderful friends. He spent the last several years of his life at New Horizons Assisted Living Center, Winter Haven. Survivors include his wife of sixty-one years, Joy Morgan Wilkinson, 855 Mann Rd., Bartow, Fla. 33830; sons, Lawrence Wilkinson ’72 of San Francisco, Lee Wilkinson and his wife Virginia of Asheville, N.C.; and grandchildren, Nora Wilkinson of San Francisco, Nick Wilkinson of Asheville, Jayme Ray and her husband Jason, and daughter Sara Margaret also of Asheville.