George Spaulding Obituary

Dr. George G. Spaulding CHARLESTON - Dr. George G. Spaulding, 95, of Flint, MI, died on Friday, May 22, 2015, in Charleston, SC. He was born on Friday, May 14, 1920, in Flint, MI to the late Minnie Ploof and the late George G. Spaulding. He attended Flint Public Schools and participated in sports, including basketball and tennis, gaining No. 1 status as a senior at Flint Central High School, in 1938. He also attended Flint Junior College (now known as Mott Community College), graduating in 1940, having played basketball and, again, earned No. 1 ranking on the tennis team. During this time, he worked part-time as a newspaper advertising salesman and news reporter for the Flint News-Advertiser Newspaper. He attended The University of Toledo, earning his way through college, with three jobs as a senior, and playing No. 4 on the tennis team. He was named coach of the tennis team when the regular coach was drafted in the Army. On December 10, three days after Pearl Harbor, he hitchhiked to a U.S. Navy station north of Detroit and enlisted in the Navy, but there were no immediate berths for officer training, so he was allowed to finish college in 1942. He graduated with a BS degree in Business Administration. In 1942, he attended Midshipmen's School at Notre Dame University and Northwestern University, graduating as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. He was assigned as a Deck Officer on the U.S.S./Navy Burrows, the smallest transport in the Navy, serving various Pacific Islands. After several months, he was assigned to the USS CORE, CVE-13, a "Baby Flat-Top," serving two years in the Atlantic Theatre on convoy-protection and anti-submarine assignments. After V-E Day, the CORE was sent to the Pacific Theatre. The day Japan surrendered, George was assigned to the USS Tarawa pre-commissioning detail, in Newport, RI, where he received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy. Returning to Flint, MI, he married Betty Ann Applegate and three loving children followed; Crystal, David and Mary. After a fling in banking and small business, he spent 35 years in the automotive industry. He managed large General Motors dealerships in Michigan and New York City. He opened a Buick dealership at Broadway and 55th Street in Manhattan, followed by managing a Chevrolet-Pontiac agency at 57th & Broadway. He served in various sales and marketing positions for Buick, Chevrolet, Pontiac and Opel Divisions. At one time he was Director of the Opel Import Program for Buick. Later, he was the Director of Sales for Opel in Germany for three years. As the Chevrolet National Service Manager, he reported to John Z. DeLorean. Spaulding was appointed a GM Vice-President and Director of Marketing & Sales for all global areas outside the U.S. and Canada. He had working relationships with notables, including Jack Nicklaus, Lou Holtz, Terry Bradshaw, Burt Reynolds and others. In 1979, he drove a Pontiac Firebird as the Pace Car for the Daytona 500 Race. Since retiring, he and his wife, Dorie, moved to Kiawah Island, SC. After trying the usual retirement pursuits, tennis and golf, the Spaulding's met John and Sue Kresse, who arranged a meeting with Howard Rudd, the head of the Department of Business at The College of Charleston. Dr. Rudd offered an opportunity for teaching as the first Executive-In-Residence. He taught 14 years in the School of Business. At one point, he developed a course, Real World 101 and established a text book. He is co-founder of the Board of Governors at the School of Business, established the 1770 Society, which was later acquired by The College's Foundation, and created the "George G. Spaulding Distinguished Executive Speaker Series." In 1987, he began a career writing weekly automotive columns for the Post & Courier. In 25 years, he missed only two deadlines due to illness. Later, he earned an instructor status for the AARP and was designated "Instructor of the Year." He has also been a board member of the Beatty Foundation and The College of Charleston's Foundation Board. He was named Director Emeritus in 2013, the first to receive this honor. Since 1995, he has been a guest lecturer at The College's School of Education, with a lecture entitled, "Make Your Own Coffee." Earlier, he initiated two School of Business recruitment films and started and edited a Business School newsletter called, "The Liberty Street Free Press." He was also a senior member of the selection committee for the Beatty and Schottland Scholars. A 1990 College of Charleston Resolution paid recognition to the sentiment, "Students received from George an unbridled enthusiasm, an interest in sharing knowledge, a bevy of executive friends and a treasure chest of actual, organizational experiences." On May 9, 1999, the College's Board of Trustees approved an Honorary Degree, "An Honorary Doctorate of Human Letters Degree," in the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony. According to The College, "This honorary degree recognized his exemplary service and financial support of The College of Charleston over many years. Following an outstanding career in the automotive industry, Dr. Spaulding's service to our institution provides an exceptional record of distinction in scholarship, research, journalism and student mentorship." On May 14, 2010, The School of Business celebrated Spaulding's 90th Birthday with a luncheon. On September 30, 2011, Dorie and George, along with Betty and Guy Beatty, Tommy and Victoria Baker were recognized with their names on the Wall of the Beatty Center for "their transformational and lasting impact on the School of Business through their philanthropy, service and commitment to our mission." On May 23, 2013, the Beatty-Spaulding Building at the Star Gospel Mission was dedicated. He is survived by his loving wife; Doris "Dorie" A. Spaulding, of Mt. Pleasant, SC, two daughters, Crystal Rogers (Perry) of Scottsdale, AZ, and Mary D. Spaulding, of Centennial, CO; stepdaughter; Laurie Bury (Robert) of Raleigh Durham, NC; stepson, Mark Millar, of NC; son, Dr. David G. Spaulding (Patricia) of Midlothian, TX; eight grandchildren, Megan Spaulding, Crystal (Michael) Preston, George M. (Jennifer) Spaulding, James D. Spaulding, Victoria Spaulding, Wick Spaulding, Nick Bury and Ben Bury; plus great-grandchildren, Emaline Preston and George Michael Spaulding. A Memorial Service will be held at Second Presbyterian Church on Friday, June 5, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. Reception will follow at The College of Charleston. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Dorie and George Spaulding Scholarship Fund, the School of Education, The College of Charleston, 86 Wentworth Street, Charleston, SC 29424. Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.McAlister-Smith.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, MT PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1520 RIFLE RANGE ROAD, MT PLEASANT, SC (843) 884-3833. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston