Category: 1948

H. Girardeau “Gerry” Leland ’48 of Charlotte, N.C., died June 3, 2005. After graduation from Davidson, Gerry earned a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. He served in the U.S. Navy, receiving his discharge on Aug. 6, 1951. He was a member of Sigma Delta Chi Professional Journalistic Society, of Trinity Presbyterian Church, and The Dinosaurs Club, a group of Charlotte Observer retirees. Mr. Leland worked thirty-seven years in the newsroom of The Charlotte Observer. He was national editor for a number of years before transferring to the feature department were he founded and was editor of TV Week, until he retired on July 18, 1986. He also wrote music columns for The Observer. Survivors include a sister, Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Hogan of Jacksonville, Fl; two sons, H. Giradeau ‘Lee’ Leland, 6239 Rockledge Pl., York, S.C. 29745-9169, and his wife, Terry, Charles Albert ‘Chuck’ Leland and his wife Rhonda, all of York, S.C.; a daughter, Irene ‘Renie’ Bridges and her husband, Eugene, of Raleigh; five grandchildren, Carl and Linda Bridges and Kristy and Travis Leland, and JoAnne Rohan; and three great-grandchildren.

David A. Crane ’48, former dean of architecture at Rice University, died May 20, 2005, in Charlottesville,Va. He founded and headed the Rice Center for Community Design and Research, which he called a “teaching hospital for graduate architectural and design students.” He also established the Rice Design Alliance, a nonprofit group dedicated to advancement of architecture and urban design. His organization, the Crane Design Group, focused on urban design projects in Texas and elsewhere. In 1986, Crane joined the University of South Florida in Tampa as professor of architecture and community design. He retired in 2002. Late in his career, Crane became interested in designing buildings and cities that conserve energy and water. Before serving in the Navy in the closing days of the war, Crane attended Davidson and was a fullback on the football team. He earned an architecture degree from Georgia Tech in 1950 and, two years later, a master’s degree in city planning from Harvard. In addition to his son, Matthew L. Crane, 4223 Earlysville Rd, Earlysville, Va. 22936, he is survived by his former wife, Bonnie Loyd Crane, of Wellesley, Mass.; daughters Melinda Crane, of Berlin, Germany, and Amanda Crane, of Los Angeles; a brother, Sid Crane ’40, of Indianapolis; and a sister, Louise Crane, of Charlottesville, Va.

Millard Winston Wester, Jr. ’48 of Henderson, N.C., died February 22, 2005. He retired from active practice in November 1990. He had been active in family practice in Henderson since his graduation from Duke Medical School. He was a member of the American Academy of General Practice. He was the first medical examiner for Vance County. He held memberships in the Vance County Medical Society, the N.C. Medical Society, the AMA, and the North Carolina Academy. He was a member of the Henderson Rotary Club, a Mason and Shriner, and a member of the First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He received the E. Harvey Estes Award, Physician Community Service Award (Doctor of the Year) from the N.C. Medical Society in November 2000. Among his survivors are his wife, Eleanor Clardy Wester, 2111 Coleman Place, Henderson, N.C. 27536-3839; three children, Millard W. III, Shelley, and Elizabeth, all involved in the medical profession; and two brothers, W. Hutson Wester ’59 of Henderson, N.C., and Dr. Thad B Wester, of Bald Head Island, N.C.

James M. Pursifull, Jr. ’48 of Pineville, Ky., died February 13, 2005. He was the retired owner of Pursifull Insurance Company. He was a member of Pikeville Lions Club, the Moore Memorial Presbyterian Church where he had served as treasurer, and a former member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. Survivors include his wife, Thelma Pursifull, 512 Kentucky Ave., Pikeville, Ky. 40997