John Southwood

NASHVILLE John Eugene "Gene" Southwood, 82, died Friday, Oct. 12, 2012, peacefully after a brief illness.Mr. Southwood was born Nov. 7, 1929 in Evansville, Ind., to the late Walter and Vera Southwood. He attended Evansville Central High School where he was an Indiana All State basketball player. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1952 where he was a member of the first full scholarship basketball team which won the Southeastern Conference tournament in 1951. Mr. Southwood joined Third National Bank (later SunTrust) in 1952 and was named president of Third National Corporation in 1979. At his retirement in 1991, he was vice chairman of Third National Corporation. Over the years Mr. Southwood served as president of the Tennessee Bankers Association, president of the Middle Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of America (1984 recipient of the Silver Beaver Award and an honorary Eagle Scout), associate of the Owen Graduate School of Management, and director of the Tennessee Child Care Facilities Loan Management Corporation. He was awarded the Tree of Life by the Jewish National Fund. He was a member of the National Commodore Club, the Vanderbilt Rebounders, the Exchange Club, the Chamber of Commerce, and was a longtime member at Harpeth Heights Baptist Church. Mr. Southwood was appointed in 1978 by President Carter to serve as a civilian delegate to the World Economic Development Council meeting of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.He is survived by his wife of 25 years, the former Paula Keen. He is also survived by his daughter, Deborah (Rinehart) Love and his son, John E. (Leslie) Southwood Jr.; grandsons. John E. Southwood III, Christopher (Joycelyn) Love, Michael (Katie) Love and Paul Love; granddaughters, Allyson Southwood and Kimberly (Tyrel) Hoppe; sister, Rita Southwood Behnke; brother, Jerry (Jeanne) Southwood; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.Mr. Southwood was interred at Harpeth Hills Memorial Gardens on Monday, Oct. 15. at a private family service.Memorials may be made to the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Boy Scouts of America, 3414 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215; the Vanderbilt University National Commodore Club, 2601 Jess Neely Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37212; or Harpeth Heights Baptist Church, 8063 Highway 100, Nashville, TN 37221.Harpeth Hills Funeral Home 9090 Highway 100 Nashville, TN 37221, 615-646-9292.