Robert B. Claytor ’44

BOB PASSED away at his home in Norfolk Apr. 9, 1993, after a long bout with cancer. He joins his beloved wife, Frances, whom he had mourned since her death in 1989. He came to Princeton from Mercersburg Academy, majored in economics ' lettered in fencing, and was active in the St. Paul's Society and WhigClio. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1943 and joined the army.

He served in the field artillery, separating as a first lieutenant. In 1948, he earned his LL.B. at Harvard. After three years in NYC with AT&T, he joined Norfolk & Western in its Roanoke law department. The railroad became his passion as he moved through the legal division into operations, where he orchestrated the highly successful merger of N&W gild SoUlfit;rp Railways in 198 1.

Bob reveled in the mass and energy ofrailroading. With his plainspoken style he was comfortable at the controls of a 100car coal train , a corporate board, or playing with his steafflpOw~~red dory on Claytor Lake. He was a man of tremendous energy and diverse interests. He adored his family, his Lord and church, music (particularly opera), and the furthering of education.

He gave his time to a staggering array of organizations and institutions. His sense of purpose and wise decisions made life better for thousands in the Norfolk area. In a 1992 letter to our class, he reminisced about his undergraduate commutes to Roanoke with Jack Clemmitt, Jim Izard, and Frances Tice of the Westminster Choir College, the girl he married after O.C.S. They had a beautiful marriage and three fine children. He wrote, "If the doctors can keep my body and soul together, I hope to make our 50th…" He'll be there. To Jane Webster, Robert, J. Preston, and the rest of the Claytor family go our deepest sympathies and respect.

The Class of 1944