Category: 1954

William G. Hill ’54 of Winston-Salem, N.C., died November 20, 2006. After attending Davidson, he graduated from UNC Chapel Hill.

He moved to Winston-Salem in 1957 and began work with Pilot Freight Carriers, Inc., where he retired after thirty years of service. He served his country in the U.S. Coast Guard. During the ’60s and ’70s he served on the technical lighting staff of the Little Theatre of Winston-Salem. He became an avid gardener and loved to grow roses and was a member of the Winston-Salem Rose Society. He won many awards for his wonderful roses. He was preceded in death by his wife of forty-eight years, Jeanne Glover Hill. Survivors include a daughter, Jeanne North Hill of Winston-Salem; a son, William G. Hill and wife, Carleen, and a grandson, Alexander Gilchrist Hill, all of Lexington, N.C.; a sister, Mary Hill Taylor, Wilmington, N.C.; and four nephews.

G.L. Buist Rivers, Jr. ’54 of Hollywood, S.C., died Oct. 26, 2006. At Davidson, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He was a graduate of the University of Virginia Law School. He served in the U.S. Army for two years. He was a partner with Hagood, Rivers and Young from 1959-65, then a senior partner and one of the founders of Young, Clement, and Rivers from 1968-1986 and then became of counsel in 1987. He was a member of the S.C. Bar Assocaition, Kiwanis Club, and numerous clubs, societies, and boards. He was a member of the Episcopal Church serving as a vestryman. His lifelong passion for fire engines led to him being the head of the Board of Firemasters for the City of Charleston. One of his favorite activities was fox hunting. He was on the board of directors of the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America for twenty-one years. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Carroll W. Rivers, 4808 Highlander Ln., Hollywood, S.C. 29449; a son, G.L. Buist Rivers III; a daughter, Reinette R. Boucher; a brother, Dr. Thomas P.R. Rivers ’57 of Charleston, S.C.; and four grandchildren, Buist Rivers IV, Eliza Lee Rivers; Alexander Boucher, and Caroline Boucher.

William C. Elliott ’54 died December 4, 2005, in Indianapolis, Ind., where he had lived since completing medical training. He was a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill Medical School and served his internship at Peterbent Brigham Hospital in Boston. He started the first hospital-based hospice in the United States at Methodist Hospital and was an assistant professor at Indiana University and an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Indiana University. He was instrumental in founding the first Cath Lab at Kranner Institute if Cardiology. He was a member of the Marion County Society, the Indiana Medical Society, American Federation of Clinical Research, American College of Cardiologists. He was also a member of Trinity Episcopal Church. Survivors include his wife of forty-eight years, Betty Porter Elliott, 7334 Lions Head Dr., Indianapolis, Ind. 46260; three daughters, Virginia E. O’Neill, Elizabeth E. Hodge, and Mary E. Smith, a son, Dr. William C. Elliott, Jr.; a brother, Dr. James J. Elliott ’48 of Davidson, N.C.; and ten grandchildren.

Ralph Ewart Petree, Jr. ’54 of Pinehurst, N.C. died November 6, 2005. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Charlotte. He attended Virginia Medical Dental School from 54-57, before going to work with ICI Americas, Inc. (AstraZeneca) as a chemist. He retired as an executive with the company in Marietta, GA in 1991, before moving to Pinehurst. During his career he lived in North Carolina, Connecticut, Delaware and Georgia. In Pinehurst, he was active in the Pinehurst Tennis Members Club, N.C. Lawn and Tennis Club, and a certified USTA instructor. He taught McDonalds Chapel young peoples tennis camp, and played competitively with the Chattahoochee Plantation Club in the GA area. He was also an avid hunter and a member of the Southern Pines Shooting Club. Survivors include his wife, Sallie McAfee Petree, P.O. Box 4665, Pinehurst, N.C. 28374; son, Jeffrey H. Petree of Beaverton, Ore.; daughter, Sally Ann Wilson of Marietta, Ga.; his sister, Margaret Leah Holder of Rock Hill, S.C.; stepson, Charles Wamsley, Jr. of Atlanta, Ga.; stepdaughters, Sallie M. Saxon of Charlotte, Mollie M. Lloyd of Kernersville, and Alma Rittenberry of Nashville, Tenn.; six step grandchildren; and two step great grandchildren.

Hervey E. Averette, M.D. ’54 of Miami, Fla., died July 1, 2005. At the time of his death, he was a clinical professor of gynecological oncology at the University of Miami. He was a former American Cancer Society Professor of Clinical Oncology, Sylvester Professor, and director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Miami School of Medicine. He earned his M.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in 1958. He completed his residency training in obstetrics and gynecology in 1963 and his fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the University of Miami School of Medicine-Jackson Memorial Medical Center in 1965. Since that time, he served on the full-time faculty of the University of Miami. He was one of the founding fathers of the Gynecologic Oncology Board, and for many years had been a national leader in the surgical management of gynecologic cancers. He was president of the Florida Society of Gynecologic Oncologists in 1972. He was a member of the American Cancer Society’s National Breast Cancer Task Force of Gynecologic Cancer. Memberships in 28 medical organizations included: the American Gynecologic and Obstetrical Society, the Society of Pelvic Surgeons, and the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists. He has been on the editorial board of six, peer-reviewed journals and was associate editor of the Journal of Cancer. He was author and co-author of over 300 scientific publications. He was an avid sailor for his entire life. Survivors include his wife, Barkley Averette, 5982 Paradise Point Dr., Royal Harbour Yacht Club, Miami, Fla. 33157; daughters, Ellen Reese and Virginia Fox; and five grandchildren: Christopher Finn, Michael Reese, Avery, Julia, and Parker Fox.