WILLIAM P. KEMP, JR.
Mar. 1,1923 - Nov. 1, 2006
William Powell Kemp, Jr, 83, died Wednesday, November 1, 2006 at Kitty Askins Hospice Center.
William Powell Kemp, Jr. was born March 1, 1923 in Easton, Maryland. William was the first of three sons of the late William Powell Kemp and Elizabeth Atherholt Kemp. In 1931, the Kemp family moved to Goldsboro where the Kemp Specialty Furniture Company was started by his father.
Bill attended Goldsboro City Schools until the tenth grade at which time he enrolled in George School, a Quaker boarding school in Pennsylvania. He graduated from there and excelled in academics as well as sports, especially wrestling. He was captain of the wrestling team his senior year.
Bill attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at the start of World War II. He was called to service after several years and enlisted as an aviation cadet in the Army Air Corps. During his training he met Betty Schneider from Pasadena, California and they were married on July 5, 1945. The couple returned to Chapel Hill at the end of the war. Bill earned his BS in Business Administration in 1948 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
During his years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Bill was instrumental in establishing the Carolina Political Union, which sponsored nationally known speakers on topics of interest. He was a brother of the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. He continued his wrestling career for the university by compiling a record of 25 wins and 4 losses and leading his team in winning the Southern Conference Championship in 1947. He was known as "Battling Bill." Bill was also a letterman in football.
After graduation in 1948, Bill moved to Goldsboro. Bill entered the family furniture manufacturing business. During his career there, he held the positions of cost accountant, personnel manager, production manager, president and chairman of the board. Under his guidance, several innovative employee programs were instituted such as employee stock ownership, employee bonuses for civic service, and paid time off for continuing education.
In addition to his furniture career, Bill was father to four children, wrestling coach at Goldsboro High School for 16 years and Scoutmaster of Troop 2 for twenty years. His love of wrestling led him to establish the sport in many Eastern North Carolina high schools. His passion for Scouting kept him involved his entire life. He attended the International World Jamboree in 1937. In 1966 his Goldsboro High School wrestling team won the State 4-A Championship. Bill believed deeply that these activities were great character builders for young men.
During his life, Bill served in many capacities as either a director or member of many organizations. Among those he served were: The American Red Cross, The Boy Scouts of America, Goldsboro Parks and Recreation Commission, Goldsboro Human Relations Commission, American Field Service, Jaycees, Rotary Club of Goldsboro, Camp Merrie-Woode, United Fund, Wayne County Mental Health, College Aid Fund of Wayne County, Goldsboro Chamber of Commerce, Wayne County Habitat for Humanity, Waynesbourgh Commission, Guilford College, Mount Olive College, Appalachian State University, North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry, the Wayne County Board of Education, First Union National Bank, Scouting Silver Beaver 1958, European Scouting Exhibition 1968 where Bill took 27 Eagle Scouts to Europe for 3 months, the North Carolina Legislature (1970-1974), President of Southern Furniture Manufacturer Association 1974 and Director of the National Association of Furniture Manufacturing 1975 to 1977, and Trustee of Guilford College.
For his service, Bill was awarded or inducted into: Goldsboro "Man of the Year" - 1957, "Boss of the Year" - 1968, Distinguished Eagle Scout - 1952, Goldsboro Sports Hall of Fame - 1991, National Wrestling Hall of Fame - 2005, Rotary Scouter of the Century Award - 2003, Jaycee Outstanding Senior Citizen, Jaycee Service to Humanity, Jaycee Distinguished Citizen, Life Membership Goldsboro Jaycees - 1966, North Carolina High School Advisory Council Award, International Home Furnishings Pillar of Industry - 1980, and The George Whitfield Baseball Clinic Award -2005.
Bill Kemp was a life long member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) as was his father's family.
He is survived by his wife, Betty S. Kemp; his daughters, Sallie L. Kemp of Canterbury, CT and Betsy Neese and husband, James B. Neese of Goldsboro; his son, William P. Kemp, III and wife, Carol B. Kemp of New Bern; his grandchildren, Elizabeth Woodard, Powell Kemp, Anna Kemp and Blades McKnight; and two great-grandchildren, Berkley and Kemp Woodard. Bill is also survived by his brothers, Philip S. Kemp and Robert L. Kemp. Bill was preceded in death by his son, David Walter Kemp.
Memorial services will be held Sunday, November 5, 2006 at 3 p.m. at Goldsboro Friends Meeting with David Brindle officiating. A private interment will be held at Willow Dale Cemetery with Rev. Eugene Carpenter presiding.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 2402 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro, NC 27534 or the Boy Scouts of America-Tuscarora Council, 316 E. Walnut Street, Goldsboro, NC 27534 or the charity of one's choice.
The family will receive friends at the Kemp residence, 102 N. Andrews Avenue, Goldsboro.
(Written & Paid by the Family)
Published in Obituaries on November 2, 2006 1:46 PM