George Watts Hill Jr. ’48

Watts Hill died Mar. 15, 2002, while working in the garden of his Chapel Hill home. He was putting the fine points on the most prominent garden of the April Chapel Hill Garden Tour. Watts also was an avid boater and loved sports cars. He led the professional competition board of the Sports Car Club of America and was a board member of the Ferrari Club of America.

Perhaps his finest achievement came as chair of the board of higher education in creating the Consolidated U. of North Carolina, bringing all 16 state-supported campuses under a single board of governors.

In addition to civic affairs and being a guiding hand in state politics, Watts was a leader in conservation. His most profound influence and legacy was as an advocate for school integration, increased spending for public education, and equal educational opportunity. He was active in the business world as the president of banks and insurance companies.

A graduate of Millbrook School, Watts was in the Navy V-5 program, and a member of Cap and Gown. He was with us only from June '45 to June '46, when he left for Navy duty. He graduated from U. of North Carolina in 1947.

To his widow, Mary, to Watts III, and daughter Debbie, the class offers its deepest condolences on the death of a present-day Renaissance man.

The Class of 1948