Carolina Alumni Review - July/August 2008

Medicine and the Friday Center. She also was manager and co-owner of a gourmet shop in Chapel Hill, International Chef. Active in the Democratic Party, Lester was South Orange precinct chair for many years. At UNC, she was a member of the first pledge class of Delta Delta Delta. Wade Barton Lewis (’ 45), 85, of Cape Coral, Fla.; Feb. 12, 2008. Lewis was project manager for a development company, then worked for Publix grocery stores. He was a frequent vocalist in community theater. In WWII, he was a fighter pilot in the Army Air Forces in the Pacific. At UNC, he played football and baseball. John Weldon Lindsay (’ 44, ’ 47 AB), 83, of Columbia, S.C.; March 20,

2008. Lindsay was an insurance executive and a lawyer, had a long military career and was a football official. He retired as executive vice president with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina. He had served in the Army in WWII and for 30 years was a commander in the S.C. National Guard, retiring as a brigadier general. He was recalled to command the S.C. State Guard, retiring with the rank of major general. His military honors included the Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge. Lindsay also was an ACC football official for 16 years, president of the S.C. Football Officials Association and advisory member of the NCAA. He was presented the Order of the

Palmetto, along with numerous awards for his work in the insurance business. He was a member of Chi Phi at UNC. William Richard Lovell (’ 47), 85, of Carrollton, Texas; Feb. 16, 2008. Lovell retired as business manager of Avila College in Kansas City, Mo. He served in the Navy in WWII and, at UNC, belonged to Sigma Chi. Margaret Peirce Manchester (’ 48 AB), 81, of Wilmington; March 22, 2008. Before moving to Wilmington in the ’80s, Manchester taught in the Westport, Conn., school system and also was a real estate agent, specializing in relocation counseling. In Wilmington, she was on the vestry of her church and a group facilitator.

MARVIN LUCIAN POYTHRESS 1929–2008
‘Perfect Goodwill Ambassador’ Inspired Volunteer Award

It all started with a young man selling bot- funeral, some people had no idea his name a story he told her the night tled Cokes on the steps of Kenan Stadium, was really Marvin,” his son said. There also are President Clinton spoke in 1993. Trotter, now lugging a bucket of ice to keep them cold. stories about his years in athletics. His son a records assistant with the GAA, was stand-Fifty years of loyalty later, this same man shared the story of Rameses’ trip to the 1976 ing on the tarmac of Kenan Stadium with stood midfield at Kenan in 1999, hailed at his Liberty Bowl game in Memphis. Poythress, Poythress, coordinator of the south side of the retirement by the establishment of an annual stadium, when he recalled the 1961 visit by volunteer award named in his honor. President Kennedy. “This sure is a different Marvin Lucian Poythress, 78, of Chapel view than the one I had when Kennedy was Hill, died May 11 following a long career here,” he told Trotter. “I’ll never forget that working in Kenan, Carmichael Auditorium night. Since I knew the tunnel and pipe sys-and the Smith Center. He started selling cold tem beneath the University, I was the one drinks and ended as a supervisor for those who stood with the Secret Service under-venues, keeping an eye on activities with safe- ground. I was in a tunnel below the football ty foremost in his mind. field directly under the platform. Didn’t get Willie Scroggs, senior associate athletics to see or hear a word Kennedy said from director for facilities and operations, was there.”

COURTESY POYTHRESS FAMILY

Poythress’ supervisor since 1978. Scroggs The award established by the UNC described him as delightful, energetic and Athletics Department and named for cheerful. “Marvin was a perfect goodwill Poythress annually honors the football vol-ambassador,” Scroggs said. He said Poythress unteer usher who most exemplifies Poythress’ went from a situation in which UNC athlet- work ethic, dedication and attitude. And the ics were rather informal to one that has many truth must be told: Marvin Poythress didn’t special events and huge crowds. completely retire in 1999 — he continued Much of Poythress’ association with UNC taking tickets at basketball games through the athletics was part-time work. For 33 years, he 2005 season. was a full-time employee at UNC Hospitals. Poythress also was dedicated to the

His daughter, Sharon House, said he worked Damascus Church, where he sang in the
as plant engineering supervisor and also was a choir and was the longtime treasurer — “I
_cabinet _maker.Marvin Poythress was big in spirit and in frame, standing 6 _learned _to _count _helping _my _Dad _with _thefeet 4. His size and penchant for wearing brown earned him

After he retired from the hospitals, he con- _the _nickname “_Teddy _Bear” _as _a _boy.collection plates each Sunday,” David said — tinued working basketball and football games. and the American Legion, where he was an His son, David Poythress, said his father could active member since his Army service in the quickly spot a problem and handle any situa- early ’50s. tion. “Course, my dad was 6 feet 4 inches tall The family legacy with athletics continues. and weighed 255 pounds, so he was a good David works part time for the athletics person for those kinds of situations.” department, as does his wife, Tricia. Poythress’

Many of Poythress’ friends called him son-in-law, Durward House, helps, too. Now, “Teddy Bear,” a nickname he earned in grade another generation is joining in — David’s school. The story is that Poythress liked to son and Sharon’s daughter and her daughter’s wear brown, had a big brown winter coat husband. and tended to be on the chubby side. “At his

in memoriam

who had a farm, hitched his cattle trailer to his pick-up and off he and Rameses went, with David following. “When we stopped at rest stops to give Rameses a walk, boy did we get some funny looks,” recalled David. “What Dad liked best was his sideline seat for a bowl game, since he had to look after Rameses.”