William Quick

William Gregory Quick, 86, of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., died Saturday, July 14, 2012, at his home.The son of Paul and Ruth Gregory Quick, he was born Nov. 28, 1925 in Gloversville, N.Y. He was educated at Kingsboro Elementary School, Baylor School, and the University of Virginia. While serving in Air Force pilot training during World War II he also attended Furman University.He was preceded in death by his son, Paul Quick II.Survivors are his wife of 65 years, Mary Cannon Quick; his daughter, Sara (Robert) Irick, of Sullivans Island, S.C.; his son, James (Trin) Quick, of Minneapolis, Minn.; grand-daughters, Cowles (Josh) Whitley, Ellen Gilchrist and Margaret Todd Irick, all of of Charleston, S.C.; sister-in-law, Marguerite Cannon, of Franklin, Tenn.; and cousin, Marilyn Collins (John) Finocan, of Gloversville, N.Y. Gregs career was in the textile industry to which he brought a lifetime of enthusiasm. He began his working life in 1949 at the Daisy, Tenn., garment factory of Kingsboro Mills, a company in which his family held controlling interest and which had moved from Gloversville, N.Y. to Chattanooga around 1940. He was made president of Kingsboro in 1961 one year after it was sold to GENESCO, a Nashville company. He was a member of the executive committee of the board of directors of GENESCO and one of four group vice-presidents in charge of all their companies when they became known as the worlds largest apparel company. He enjoyed very much being a part of its growth and success during those years.When he and Mary decided to return to Chattanooga, his varied experiences were beneficial at a time when textile companies all around faced stormy years. He knew where viable niches remained, and after serving for a time as president of Signal Knitting Mills and vice-president of Skyland International, he embarked on starting a number of manufacturing and sales companies. He thrived on organizing companies, and was acquainted with younger people of fine character and energy who wanted to partner with him, and these enterprises made for interesting and productive years until his retirement at age 70.Greg enjoyed many sports. As a youth, he rode the familys gaited horses in competition until World War II intervened. In the fifties he was a member of a Lookout Mountain softball team that won the Chattanooga city championship. When the family had a boat "The Quix," on Chickamauga Lake he enjoyed fishing and boating, and especially entertaining guests up and down the Tennessee River. He was for many years a regular at the Downtown Y and had many friends there. In Nashville he was a member of a neighborhood group who Bowled-on-the-green and he would almost never miss their Sunday afternoon bouts. He enjoyed golf most of all and played it everywhere he went.He was a member of Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church virtually all of his adult life, except the Nashville years when he belonged to First Presbyterian Church, where he served as deacon. Although his work schedule regularly kept him away from home most of every week, he gave time to help raise funds for the Boy Scouts, Big Brothers, the Children's Museum and the church, among other things.A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. today, July 17, at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Franklin, Tenn.Pallbearers are Ed Cannon, Josh Whitley, Pat Schaefer, Mac Linton, Trey Caroland and Johnny Bransford; honorary pallbearers are Bobby Bransford, Morgan Entrekin, Timmy Douglas, Charlie Nelson and Craig Hume.A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today, July 18, in the chapel of Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Brian Salter officiating. Visitation will be in the Brock Class room one hour before the service.In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial donations be made to Baylor School, Baylor School Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405; Hospice of Chattanooga, 4411 Oakwood Dr., Chattanooga, TN 37416; or to the charity of your choice.Williamson Memorial Funeral Home, 615-794-2289. www.williamsonmemorial.com.