David H. Semmes ’49

David died Jan. 1, 2015, at home in Flint Hill, Va., just four days short of his 87th birthday.

“Tick,” as we knew him, came to Princeton after a brief stint in the Navy. An English major, he ate at Cap and Gown and was in the Pre-Law Society. He ran varsity track and played JV football.

He subsequently spent eight years in intelligence work for the government, five of them overseas. David practiced law for the next 41 years, specializing in intellectual property and patent law.

His greatest loves were hunting and racing thoroughbreds, and he was the longtime master of the Old Dominion Hounds, as well as being an active point-to-point and steeplechase rider. David had ridden nearly 100 races over three decades, retiring in 1986 to concentrate on selecting and training good horses. His proudest achievement was winning the Virginia Gold Cup with the silks of his Indian Run Farm.

He is survived by his daughters, Stratton and Deryn Semmes; and was predeceased by his wife, Dudley, and son David Gibson Semmes. The class extends its deepest condolences to David’s daughters and friends.