William Bulgin McGuire

William Bulgin McGuire, age 102, died on August 15, 2012. A resident of Sharon Towers Retirement Community, he was born in Franklin, NC, July 26, 1910, the son of Margaret Bulgin McGuire and William Boyd McGuire. He was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Grace Moseley Robinson McGuire. He is survived by four children and their spouses: Elizabeth McGuire Petty and husband Douglas Cooper Petty of Alexandria, Va. and Vero Beach, Fla.; William Bulgin McGuire, Jr. and wife Susanne Hurst McGuire of Charlotte; Dr. John O’Brien McGuire and wife Christine McArdle McGuire of Asheville, NC; and Robert Boyd McGuire and wife Nancy Cooper McGuire of Charlotte. His survivors also include nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

Mr. McGuire is best remembered for his sharp intellect, unquestionable integrity, insightful wisdom and humble demeanor. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and took great pride and pleasure in his family.

After graduating from Franklin High School he entered Davidson College and graduated in 1930. He served as senior class president and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omricron Delta Kappa honorary societies and Pi Kappa Alpha social fraternity. He graduated from Duke University Law School in 1933. In his last year there he served as President of the Law School Student Bar Association and was a member of The Order of Coif, an honorary scholastic society.

Upon graduation from law school, Mr. McGuire joined the legal department of Duke Power Company, Charlotte, NC and continued in the employment of that company until he retired in 1971. He served as President of the company from 1959 to 1971. He also served as a Trustee of the Duke Endowment from 1965 to 1988 and as a member of the Board of the Charlotte Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. He received honorary degrees from Davidson College and Pfeiffer College.

He was a member and elder of Myers Park Presbyterian Church except for a period of 15 years when he was a member and elder of Unity Presbyterian Church, Denver, NC.

Mr. McGuire was active in numerous civic, church, business and professional activities including Governor Dan Moore’s Commission for the Public Schools, The Research Triangle Foundation, Junior Achievement and the Edison Electric Institute. He was a founder and former Chairman of the National Electric Reliability Council. He served as President of the Mecklenburg Bar Association and President of the N. C. Citizens Association. In 1967 he was named “Man of the Year” by the Society for the Advancement of Management, Greenville, SC.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in memory of William Bulgin McGuire to the Residents’ Assistance Fund at Sharon Towers, 5100 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC 28210; the William B. McGuire Scholarship Fund at Davidson College, P. O. Box 7145, Davidson, NC 28035-7145; or the William B. McGuire Scholarship Fund at Duke University Law School, Campus Box 90389, Durham, NC 27708.

Visitations to celebrate the life of William B. McGuire will be held from 6 until 8 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012 at the home of William B. McGuire, Jr., 1227 Scotland Avenue; and from 3 until 4 pm on Monday, August 20th, in the City View Club Room at Sharon Towers. Graveside services will be private. Harry & Bryant Company is serving the family.