1947
The Rev. John James Miller, May 11, 2015, Lake Junaluska, S.C. Miller served numerous churches in North Carolina and enjoyed work as an evangelist for 336 revivals and preaching events in the churches of eight denominations in nine states.
1948
Dr. Lyle Hamilton Phifer, June 2, 2015, West Chester, Pa. Phifer was well known and active in professional groups involving analytical chemistry, including a term as president of the Philadelphia section of the American Chemical Society. He founded the Delaware Valley Chromatography Forum and served as president of the Philadelphia Science Council. He retired as president and owner of Chem Service and taught classes at Villanova University and St. Joseph’s University. He holds a patent on a spectrophotometer cell holder still in use today.
1949
The Rev. Herbert Willingham Neely Sr., July 9, 2015, Laurens, S.C. Neely was serving as a pastor at Sweetwater Baptist Church in Greer, S.C., when he and his wife were called into the mission field. They served in Zimbabwe for 16 years and in the Cayman Islands for 17 years.
1951
Herman Otto Chesney, Aug. 3, 2015, Marietta, Ga. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Chesney was an active member of First Presbyterian Marietta and the Marietta Rotary Club. He retired as chairman of Convention Planners International and Travel Planners International.
1953
Charles W. Gallman Sr., June 24, 2015, Mount Holly, N.C. Gallman enjoyed a 42-year career with Duke Power after a four-year stint in the U.S. Navy, stationed at Miramar Naval Base with two tours on the USS Boxer and the USS Oriskany. He was active in his church and community and enjoyed traveling, tinkering with cars and furniture restoration.
1957
George “Smokey” Rice, July 3, 2015, Chesapeake, Va. An avid Wofford supporter, Rice was captain of the Terrier football team during his senior year and was named All Little Three and Little Three Lineman of the Year during 1954. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins after his senior year, but had to fulfill his military obligations. He was inducted into the Wofford Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987. He enjoyed being on campus for the graduation of his nephew, Tyler Swain ’12.
1958
Bobby Clyde Usher, June 23, 2015, Atlanta, Ga. A member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at Wofford, he was a retired insurance executive. He was active in his church and community, initiating the Rotary Club’s “Coats for Kids” program, which provided hundreds of coats to the Community Action Center.
1959
Dr. Legrand Thurman Scott Jr., June 24, 2015, Rockingham, N.C. A Vietnam War veteran, Scott was a physician with Richmond Medical Center.
John Harmon Wood Jr., June 3, 2015, Boiling Springs, S.C. A U.S. Army veteran in the 187th Airborne during the Korean War, Wood worked at Band and White printing and served as president of Print Pak before opening Famille Printing in Spartanburg.
1960
Everett E. “Doc” Herlong Jr., May 23, 2015, Rock Hill, S.C. Herlong spent his entire working life with Celanese Corp. He was a U.S. Army veteran.
1965
The Rev. Dr. Douglas Arthur Bowling, Aug. 19, 2015, Greer, S.C. A retired United Methodist minister, Bowling served numerous churches throughout the state. He was well known for his servant’s heart and was selected by his class to carry the Class of 1965 banner at its 50th reunion weekend during Commencement 2015.
Dan H. Montgomery Jr., Aug. 24, 2015, Kawasaki, Japan. Montgomery served in the U.S. Army in Tokyo as an intelligence specialist after attending Japanese language school in Monterey, Calif. He taught and coached at St. Mary’s International School in Tokyo for 35 years. Even from Japan he loved following Terrier athletics and would wake up in the middle of the night to listen to Terrier games online.
Dr. Fred W. Robbins, July 1, 2011, Edwardsville, Ill. Robbins was professor emeritus of English at Southern Illinois University (SIU) at Edwardsville, retiring in 2001. He also edited “Sou-wester,” an international literary magazine published at SIU.
Wallace Eugene Whitlock Sr., May 20, 2015, Spartanburg, S.C. A member of Kappa Alpha Order at Wofford, Whitlock was a faithful donor for many years. He was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church and was active with the American Diabetes Association.
Dr. Thomas Millard Zepp, May 22, 2015, Salem, Ore. An artillery officer in the Army, Zepp was stationed in West Germany before earning his Ph.D. in economics. He became a private economic consultant and professor of economics before starting his own business, Utility Resources Inc.
1967
Francis Marion Dwight II, Aug. 21, 2015, Ellerbe, N.C. Dwight taught at Rockingham Junior High School and was a past president of the Ellerbe Lions Club. He was active at First United Methodist Church in Ellerbe and enjoyed time as a cattle rancher, thoroughbred horse breeder and trainer, golfer and traveler.
1968
John Thomas Tanner, June 21, 2015, Raleigh, N.C. Tanner’s life’s work was serving as an advocate for abused and neglected children and elderly and disabled adults in North Carolina with the Department of Health and Human Services and several other social service agencies. In 2003, he was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state’s highest civilian honor.
1971
William Gause Smith Jr., July 24, 2015, Loris, S.C. A member of Kappa Sigma fraternity at Wofford, Smith was a retired United Methodist minister. He was an avid gardener.
1974
Robert Lee Hamrick, June 12, 2015, Enoree, S.C. A U.S. Army veteran, Hamrick was a member of Cedar Grove Baptist Church.
Michael Anthony Ridley, June 11, 2015, Spartanburg, S.C. Ridley trained with the National Shakespeare Conservatory in New York City and throughout his long career as a Shakespearean actor played in more than 80 productions of 28 of Shakespeare’s plays.
2015
Cameron Michael Pappas, June 18, 2015, Spartanburg, S.C. Pappas was a rising senior at Wofford College at the time of his death. He hoped to pursue a career in government. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and a huge fan of the Dave Matthews Band, attending 26 of the band’s concerts.
2016
Jeremiah L. Tate, June 22, 2015, Columbia, S.C. A rising junior at Wofford, Tate was a student-athlete on the men’s basketball team, an accounting major, a Bonner Scholar, a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Edward K. Hardin Pre-Law Society. He was working at Camp Thunderbird in Rock Hill, S.C., at the time of his death.
Friends
John Thomas Buice, July 27, 2015, Spartanburg, S.C. Buice basically grew up on Wofford’s campus as the son of Earl Buice, who was director of food service and head golf coach. Buice went into food service as well and fed thousands during his 40-plus years as a caterer.
Anne M. Ebersbach, July 29, 2015, Spartanburg, S.C. Ebersbach cooperated on numerous projects at Wofford through the years as the executive assistant to Roger Milliken, longtime trustee and Wofford supporter.