Category: 1953

Carl Adam Thompson, Jr. ’53, of Winston-Salem, N.C., passed away Aug. 25, 2007. Carl was born Nov. 28, 1926, in Lenoir and was the son of the late Carl Adam Thompson, Sr. and the late Lena Keyes Thompson. He was a graduate of Davidson and UNC where he obtained his M.B.A. In 1954, he began his work career with Western Electric in Winston-Salem where he held various accounting and financial positions. After 33 years of service, he retired from AT&T where he was controller in the federal affairs division. He served four years in the U.S. Army and was a member of a variety of business and civic organizations where he held various offices. He was a member of College Park Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Burr Thompson. In 1951, he married Mary Frances Howard, 2966 Ormond Dr., Winston-Salem, NC 27106, who survives. He is also survived by three children, Marcus E. Thompson (Carol), John K. Thompson, and Kathryn Watson (Chad); four grandchildren, Amelia Thompson, and Tanner, McCabe, and Wade Watson; a sister, Patricia Beason; a sister-in-law, Beverly Howard; and a brother-in-law, Wesley Thompson; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

David Wallace Robinson II ’53 of Columbia, S.C., died August 9. A son of the late Henry Burton Robinson and Lyda Studdert Robinson, he was born in Columbia and grew up in Raleigh, N.C. A 1949 graduate of Needham-Broughton High School and 1953 graduate of Davidson College, he served in Austria as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1958. He was first married to Isabelle Magnus Pilskaln of Easthampton, Mass. For over forty-two years, he practiced law with Robinson, McFadden and Moore law firm. From 1970-1975, he also served as General Counsel for Liberty Corporation and Liberty Life Insurance Company in Greenville, S.C. He was active in local, state, and national professional organizations, including the American Law Institute. He handled trials and appeals in state and federal courts including the United States Supreme Court. He was active in social and charitable organizations. He enjoyed travel and support of the arts. Mr. Robinson was a member of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. He was preceded in death by his wife, LeDare Hurst Robinson. Survivors include his daughter, Ames “Amy” R. Cameron ’81; son, Clay D. Robinson (Ellison); stepsons, Harrison Thompson (April), John Thompson (Hope), Broadus Thompson (Mary), and Charlie Thompson; grandchildren, Greg and Maggie Cameron; Henry, Meredith and Sam Robinson; and Bryan, Sara, John, and Andrew Thompson; former son-in-law, Alan Cameron; and sister-in-law, Margaret Robinson. He was preceded in death by a brother, Burton Robinson, Jr.

Alexander Gordon Stuart, Jr. ’53, retired vice president of the Hanover Shoe Co. and a former Bristolian, died June 1 in Texas. At Davidson, he was a member of the football team and Kappa Sigma fraternity. He later transferred to Emory & Henry College, where he also played football, graduating in 1953. He joined the U.S. Marine Corp, serving with distinction and rising to the rank of captain. He returned to Bristol and began a career in the shoe business with King Brothers Shoe Co. He later joined the M.T. Shaw Shoe Co. in Coldwater, Mich., to direct its sales program nationally. He moved to the Hanover Shoe Co. in 1977 and became president of Hanover’s Pennsylvania-Maryland company, making private label brand shoes for Brooks Brothers, Bass, L.L. Bean, and J.C. Penney, among many others. Upon retirement, he and his wife, Yvonne Louise, bought a home in Hot Springs, Va., where they became active in the community and the Hot Springs Presbyterian Church. He was an avid gardener, a student of history, and a devoted fan of both classical and bluegrass music. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Mary and Patricia. Survivors include his wife, Yvonne, a native Texan, North Ridge Drive, Hot Springs, Va. 24445; a son, Alex; daughters, Martha, Anna and Betty; eight grandchildren; his brother, Robert of Bristol; and his stepsons, Bradley and Nyal Witham of Houston.

William Tucker Blaine, Jr. ’53 died on April 25, 2007, after a valiant struggle with cancer. He attended Davidson for two years, was a graduate of the University of Houston, and earned his M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. After serving his country in the Korean War, he began working in his father’s business, Blaine & Co. Insurance Agency, where he later became managing partner. He finished his insurance career at Hilb, Rogal, and Hamilton Insurance Co. He was on the board of the Kiwanis Club of Houston, the board of the Holly Hall Retirement Center as treasurer, the board of the Awty School, Homes of St. Marks, and president of the English Speaking Union. Tucker served many years as an elder of the First Presbyterian Church before joining St. Philip Presbyterian Church. His pleasure was his farm, his passion was history and biblical study. Survivors include his wife, Marie Sharpe Blaine, 154 Glynn Way, Houston, Texas 77056; daughter, Sarah Blaine and goddaughters Elizabeth Schulze and Katherine Lucke and her family, husband David and daughters Ellie and Kay.

Stephen H. Mills, D.D.S., M.A. ’53 of Morganton, N.C., died January 2, 2007. After attending Davidson, he graduated from the University of Florida, the University of Maryland Dental School and also from Lenoir Rhyne College with a master’s in counseling. He had a private dental practice in West Palm Beach, Fla., and worked as a staff dentist at Broughton Hospital in Morganton, N.C. from 1978 to 1997. He published an article for General Dentistry