Robert E. Gregory Jr. ’64 made a name for himself as a business leader with major national companies.

Along the way, he always made time to serve his alma mater and community. Gregory died on Nov. 22.

Gregory is survived by his wife, Marie; his children, Scott ’90 and Kelly; his grandchildren; and his brother.

“Throughout his hugely successful career as a leader in the business world and as a major contributor to institutions serving healthcare, education and the arts, Rob’s loyalty and generosity to his alma mater never wavered,” says Bernie Dunlap, Wofford College’s eighth president. “He didn’t simply give, he served—and Wofford is vastly better because of him. For everyone who’s also loved the college, his example should be an inspiration.”

Gregory served as a Wofford College trustee from 1986-1998 and chaired the board from 1994-1998. He received an honorary degree from the college in 1999 and was elected to the athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps before graduating from the University of South Carolina School of Law and Harvard Business School.

Gregory served as legal assistant to the chief justice of the S.C. Supreme Court before serving as group vice president and general counsel to Spartan Mills. He then served as president of Lee Jeans Co. and president of VF Corp., one of the world’s largest apparel companies, which owned brands such as Lee, Vanity Fair, Wrangler, Jansport and many others.

In 1992, he established his own firm, which specialized in financial and operational restructuring, as well as performing consultancy work for public companies. Clients included Gitano, London Fog, numerous private equity-owned companies and financial institutions. This work gained Gregory national recognition as a leading turnaround specialist. Immediately before his retirement, he served as an operating partner of two multi-billion-dollar private equity firms.

Gregory served on the boards of directors of six companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange and 16 private companies.

Starting in 2011, Gregory served as the chair of the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Board of Trustees for six years before transitioning to chair of the newly formed Apella Health Management Board of Trustees. He also chaired the boards for the Spartanburg County Foundation and the Spartanburg Regional Foundation.

Gregory was a recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor.