’60s. He taught journalism at UNC for five years,
then joined the N.C. Central University faculty to help
establish its department of communications. He was
inducted into the UNC School of Journalism Halls of
Fame in 2007. In WWII, he served in the Navy aboard
a destroyer escort. u Jane Wilcox Smith (’ 45 AB),
85, of Cumming, Ga.; April 11, 2010. Smith was a
high school English teacher and reading specialist. In
retirement, she became a textbook author. Most
recently, she was co-author of a text on American
government. As an alumna, she was an officer and
member of the GAA Board of Directors (1976-79). At
UNC, she belonged to Pi Beta Phi. u Lawrence
Albion Stox (’ 48), 89, of Greenville; April 11, 2010.
Stox retired as sales manager of the tire division of
Sears Roebuck and Co. In WWII, he served as a
storekeeper in the Navy. He was president of his
Kiwanis Club. u Dr. William Tenenblatt (’ 40 AB, ’ 42
CMED), 91, of Lake Worth, Fla.; March 18, 2010.
Tenenblatt was a physician in Washington, D.C., and
Silver Spring, Md., specializing in gynecology and
obstetrics. He served in the Korean War in the Medical
Corps. At UNC, he was president of Hillel Foundation.
u Dannie Davis Underwood (’ 49 BSPHR), 85, of
Greensboro; April 18, 2010. Underwood was a phar-
macist and owner of a drugstore. In WWII, he served
in the Navy. u William Jewell Underwood (’ 45), 88,
of West Jefferson; April 24, 2010. Underwood retired
as an elementary school principal in the Wilkes
County schools. In WWII, he served in the Marine
Corps. u Burney Simon Warren Jr. (’ 45 BSPHR), 87,
of Greenville; April 21, 2010. Warren was a pharma-
cist who had owned Warren’s Drug Store in
Greenville. He continued as a pharmacist with other
drugstores until his retirement. He belonged to
Sigma Alpha Epsilon at UNC. u Ira Lee Whorton
(’ 49), 84, of New Bern; March 10, 2010. Whorton
worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture as
Pamlico County agriculture, soil and conservation
agent. For 21 years, he was mayor of Bayboro and
for 20 years was announcer for Pamlico County High
School football games. He served in WWII and, at
UNC, belonged to Pi Kappa Alpha. u John Robert
Williams (’ 49 BSCOM), 82, of Greensboro; April 16,
2010. Williams’ career was as an executive in the
textile business. In retirement, he owned a manage-
ment recruiters business. He was in the Army in the
Korean War. At UNC, he played on the football team.
u M. Patrick Witherington Sr. (’ 42 BSCOM), 89, of
Statesville; March 24, 2010. Witherington was a CPA
in Greensboro, then established his own company in
Statesville. In WWII, he was in the Navy, serving as
commander of a landing craft tank. Following VJ Day,
he ferried Japanese prisoners back to Japan. He was
an Eagle Scout. u Wylma Corrine Woolard (’ 49
BSLS), 95, of Matthews; Dec. 16, 2009. Woolard
retired as a high school librarian for the Charlotte-
Mecklenburg school system. She spent 10 years as
director of library services for children of military per-
sonnel in Germany and France.
’50s Doris Waugh Betts (’ 54) of Pitts- boro, Randall Garrett Kenan (’ 85 AB), and Lee Smith discussed their
inspirations for writing at a benefit for the Chatham
County Literacy Council in April. Betts is a longtime
council supporter and tutor who has served on the
board of directors and is now on its advisory board.
A retired UNC professor of creative writing, she
served on the GAA Board of Directors (1984-87). u
50s
Peter Joseph Brennan (’ 58, ’ 65 BSIR) of Hillsborough has joined Morris Commercial Inc. as a commercial investment real estate broker. Brennan was
a member of the 1957 undefeated national championship UNC basketball team and played professionally before returning to North Carolina. u Robert F.
Comer (’ 56, ’ 57 AB) of Dobson has been elected
vice president of the N.C. Association of Community
College Trustees. Comer, retired from the Navy in
1980, is a managing partner of Sanford Holshouser
Economic Development Consulting LLC, headquartered in Cary with an office in Dobson. u David
Arnold Evans Jr. (’ 59 BSBA) of Greenville has been
named to the board of trustees at Barton College.
GAA FILES
LeNeve Hodges
“Ollie” Adams
(’ 52 AB), 78, of
Raleigh; April 22,
2010. Adams
was a travel
agent and real
estate agent
who had a num-
ber of volunteer
activities. She
was treasurer of
the Wake
County Phi Beta
Kappa Society
and used original journals to restore the garden
at the Mordecai House in Raleigh, a historical
site. While at UNC, she graduated Phi Beta
Kappa and belonged to Alpha Delta Pi.
One class at a time! In 1985, Kimberly P. Johnson
had to take time off from college to pay student loans. Twenty years later,
she was a successful children’s author and passionate children’s literacy
advocate. She still had one unfulfilled goal. Kimberly started taking the
Friday Center’s Self-paced Courses and earned her degree in 2006. “It
was such a monumental moment for me,” she recalls, “I had a successful
career and had even been invited to the White House, but this one
thing—finishing my degree—has been the highlight of my life.”
Whether you’re completing an educational goal or satisfying a love of
learning, the Friday Center is here to serve your continuing education
needs. Visit
fridaycenter.unc.edu or call 866-441-3683 to schedule an
appointment with an advisor.
