Robert D. Sellers Jr. ’50

Bob died Oct. 24, 2009, in a North Carolina retirement center.

He graduated from Woodberry Forest. At Princeton, Bob was a four-year varsity wrestler, winner of the Treide (wrestling) Trophy, and played 150-pound football. He was a member of Cottage and graduated with honors in basic engineering. In 1952 he earned a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School.

After serving for two years in the Air Force as a second lieutenant, he returned to his hometown of Greenville, S.C., to begin a career in the textile industry. He started at Southern Bleachery and Printworks, where he eventually succeeded his father as president. Bob later worked for Woodside Mills as a vice president. In 1972, he joined Springs Industries in Fort Mill, S.C., as a vice president and worked there until his retirement in 1994.  

Bob was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church in Charlotte, N.C., where he had lived since 1972. He was elected to the vestry several times and served two terms as junior warden. He also served as board chairman of the St. Francis Project and the Seeds of Hope Project.

Our sympathy goes to his son, Robert; daughter, Gari; and four grandchildren. Ann, his wife of 54 years, died Jan. 22, 2010.