Samuel James "Sam" Calvert Jr., of Old Indian Hill Trail, retired former chairman of The Austin Company, Inc., died Sunday after several months of sharply declining health related to cancer. He was 81.
Mr. Calvert died Sunday afternoon at Laughlin Memorial Hospital, attended by close family members. He had been a patient at the hospital for several days.
A son of the late Samuel James Calvert Sr. and Marion Morse Calvert, he was born Dec. 16, 1928, in Port of Spain, Trinidad, where his father was associated with British-American Tobacco, a leading international tobacco dealer since the early 1900s.
The senior Mr. Calvert later represented British-American Tobacco in both Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and Mr. Calvert Jr. spent much of his youth as a resident of those countries, especially in Managua, Nicaragua.
The family also had strong ties to Virginia, and Sam Calvert Jr. attended Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., from which he was graduated in 1947.
He was a 1951 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
In 1951 he began working for The Austin Company, Inc., a world-wide dealer in leaf tobacco, and moved to Greeneville with his wife, Peggy.
Founded in 1919 and headquartered in Greeneville, The Austin Company became over the years one of the two largest privately-owned tobacco dealers in the world, with a global sales force and clientele.
In addition, the company was for some 70 years a major employer in Greeneville/Greene County, employing several hundred persons during the tobacco-processing months each year.
In 1990 The Austin Company merged with A.C. Monk & Co., of Farmville, N.C., another privately-owned international tobacco dealer, to form a new joint holding company, Monk-Austin, Inc., based in Farmville.
Both companies, however, continued their individual operations.
During his career with The Austin Company, Mr. Calvert, who was fluent in Spanish, represented the company in a number of international markets, especially in Central and South America, although his home always remained here.
He retired in 1994 as chairman of the board of directors of The Austin Company. Prior to being named chairman in 1989, he had served as one of two executive vice presidents of the company.
In addition to his responsibilities with The Austin Company, he was a former president of the Tobacco Association of the United States and a former member of the board of directors of various tobacco associations.
A lifelong Episcopalian, he was an active member and lay reader of St. James Episcopal Church.
He had served a number of terms as Senior Warden of the church vestry, as church treasurer, and in various other leadership roles.
Mr. Calvert was also a former member of the Board of Trustees of Tusculum College.
After his retirement, he and his wife devoted much time to family activities with their children and grandchildren, and other family members.
Survivors, in addition to his wife of 55 years, Peggy Reeves Calvert, include: a daughter and son-in-law: Melanie and Woody Coley of Winter Park, Fla.; a son and daughter-in-law: Gray and Katherine Calvert of Bronxville, N.Y.; five grandchildren: Calvert Coley of New York City, Catherine Coley of Winter Park, and Reeves Calvert, Logan Calvert, and Samuel James Calvert, all of Bronxville; a brother and sister-in-law: William and Marion Calvert of Houston; and a brother-in-law: Dr. Talmadge Reeves of Salisbury, Md.
Mr. Calvert was preceded in death by a son, Samuel J. Calvert III.
The funeral will be conducted at 12 noon on Saturday, May 22, at St. James Episcopal Church. The Rev. Carolyn Isley, rector, will officiate.
The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of the church from 11 a.m. to noon preceding the service.
Honorary pallbearers will be Nat Coleman, Warren Snead, Joe Lane, Hans Andersen, Tom Beckner, John M. Jones, Wylie Milligan, and Tom Austin.
Memorial contributions may be made to either: the Greeneville-Greene County Library, 210 N. Main St., Greeneville, TN 37745; St. James Episcopal Church, 107 West Church St., Greeneville, TN 37743; or the Greeneville-Greene County Humane Society, 950 Hal Henard Road, Greeneville, TN 37743.
Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Calvert died Sunday afternoon at Laughlin Memorial Hospital, attended by close family members. He had been a patient at the hospital for several days.
A son of the late Samuel James Calvert Sr. and Marion Morse Calvert, he was born Dec. 16, 1928, in Port of Spain, Trinidad, where his father was associated with British-American Tobacco, a leading international tobacco dealer since the early 1900s.
The senior Mr. Calvert later represented British-American Tobacco in both Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and Mr. Calvert Jr. spent much of his youth as a resident of those countries, especially in Managua, Nicaragua.
The family also had strong ties to Virginia, and Sam Calvert Jr. attended Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., from which he was graduated in 1947.
He was a 1951 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
In 1951 he began working for The Austin Company, Inc., a world-wide dealer in leaf tobacco, and moved to Greeneville with his wife, Peggy.
Founded in 1919 and headquartered in Greeneville, The Austin Company became over the years one of the two largest privately-owned tobacco dealers in the world, with a global sales force and clientele.
In addition, the company was for some 70 years a major employer in Greeneville/Greene County, employing several hundred persons during the tobacco-processing months each year.
In 1990 The Austin Company merged with A.C. Monk & Co., of Farmville, N.C., another privately-owned international tobacco dealer, to form a new joint holding company, Monk-Austin, Inc., based in Farmville.
Both companies, however, continued their individual operations.
During his career with The Austin Company, Mr. Calvert, who was fluent in Spanish, represented the company in a number of international markets, especially in Central and South America, although his home always remained here.
He retired in 1994 as chairman of the board of directors of The Austin Company. Prior to being named chairman in 1989, he had served as one of two executive vice presidents of the company.
In addition to his responsibilities with The Austin Company, he was a former president of the Tobacco Association of the United States and a former member of the board of directors of various tobacco associations.
A lifelong Episcopalian, he was an active member and lay reader of St. James Episcopal Church.
He had served a number of terms as Senior Warden of the church vestry, as church treasurer, and in various other leadership roles.
Mr. Calvert was also a former member of the Board of Trustees of Tusculum College.
After his retirement, he and his wife devoted much time to family activities with their children and grandchildren, and other family members.
Survivors, in addition to his wife of 55 years, Peggy Reeves Calvert, include: a daughter and son-in-law: Melanie and Woody Coley of Winter Park, Fla.; a son and daughter-in-law: Gray and Katherine Calvert of Bronxville, N.Y.; five grandchildren: Calvert Coley of New York City, Catherine Coley of Winter Park, and Reeves Calvert, Logan Calvert, and Samuel James Calvert, all of Bronxville; a brother and sister-in-law: William and Marion Calvert of Houston; and a brother-in-law: Dr. Talmadge Reeves of Salisbury, Md.
Mr. Calvert was preceded in death by a son, Samuel J. Calvert III.
The funeral will be conducted at 12 noon on Saturday, May 22, at St. James Episcopal Church. The Rev. Carolyn Isley, rector, will officiate.
The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of the church from 11 a.m. to noon preceding the service.
Honorary pallbearers will be Nat Coleman, Warren Snead, Joe Lane, Hans Andersen, Tom Beckner, John M. Jones, Wylie Milligan, and Tom Austin.
Memorial contributions may be made to either: the Greeneville-Greene County Library, 210 N. Main St., Greeneville, TN 37745; St. James Episcopal Church, 107 West Church St., Greeneville, TN 37743; or the Greeneville-Greene County Humane Society, 950 Hal Henard Road, Greeneville, TN 37743.
Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Samuel James "Sam" Calvert Jr., of Old Indian Hill Trail, retired former chairman of The Austin Company, Inc., died Sunday after several months of sharply declining health related to cancer. He was 81.
Mr. Calvert died Sunday afternoon at Laughlin Memorial Hospital, attended by close family members. He had been a patient at the hospital for several days.
A son of the late Samuel James Calvert Sr. and Marion Morse Calvert, he was born Dec. 16, 1928, in Port of Spain, Trinidad, where his father was associated with British-American Tobacco, a leading international tobacco dealer since the early 1900s.
The senior Mr. Calvert later represented British-American Tobacco in both Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and Mr. Calvert Jr. spent much of his youth as a resident of those countries, especially in Managua, Nicaragua.
The family also had strong ties to Virginia, and Sam Calvert Jr. attended Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., from which he was graduated in 1947.
He was a 1951 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
In 1951 he began working for The Austin Company, Inc., a world-wide dealer in leaf tobacco, and moved to Greeneville with his wife, Peggy.
Founded in 1919 and headquartered in Greeneville, The Austin Company became over the years one of the two largest privately-owned tobacco dealers in the world, with a global sales force and clientele.
In addition, the company was for some 70 years a major employer in Greeneville/Greene County, employing several hundred persons during the tobacco-processing months each year.
In 1990 The Austin Company merged with A.C. Monk & Co., of Farmville, N.C., another privately-owned international tobacco dealer, to form a new joint holding company, Monk-Austin, Inc., based in Farmville.
Both companies, however, continued their individual operations.
During his career with The Austin Company, Mr. Calvert, who was fluent in Spanish, represented the company in a number of international markets, especially in Central and South America, although his home always remained here.
He retired in 1994 as chairman of the board of directors of The Austin Company. Prior to being named chairman in 1989, he had served as one of two executive vice presidents of the company.
In addition to his responsibilities with The Austin Company, he was a former president of the Tobacco Association of the United States and a former member of the board of directors of various tobacco associations.
A lifelong Episcopalian, he was an active member and lay reader of St. James Episcopal Church.
He had served a number of terms as Senior Warden of the church vestry, as church treasurer, and in various other leadership roles.
Mr. Calvert was also a former member of the Board of Trustees of Tusculum College.
After his retirement, he and his wife devoted much time to family activities with their children and grandchildren, and other family members.
Survivors, in addition to his wife of 55 years, Peggy Reeves Calvert, include: a daughter and son-in-law: Melanie and Woody Coley of Winter Park, Fla.; a son and daughter-in-law: Gray and Katherine Calvert of Bronxville, N.Y.; five grandchildren: Calvert Coley of New York City, Catherine Coley of Winter Park, and Reeves Calvert, Logan Calvert, and Samuel James Calvert, all of Bronxville; a brother and sister-in-law: William and Marion Calvert of Houston; and a brother-in-law: Dr. Talmadge Reeves of Salisbury, Md.
Mr. Calvert was preceded in death by a son, Samuel J. Calvert III.
The funeral will be conducted at 12 noon on Saturday, May 22, at St. James Episcopal Church. The Rev. Carolyn Isley, rector, will officiate.
The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of the church from 11 a.m. to noon preceding the service.
Honorary pallbearers will be Nat Coleman, Warren Snead, Joe Lane, Hans Andersen, Tom Beckner, John M. Jones, Wylie Milligan, and Tom Austin.
Memorial contributions may be made to either: the Greeneville-Greene County Library, 210 N. Main St., Greeneville, TN 37745; St. James Episcopal Church, 107 West Church St., Greeneville, TN 37743; or the Greeneville-Greene County Humane Society, 950 Hal Henard Road, Greeneville, TN 37743.
Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Calvert died Sunday afternoon at Laughlin Memorial Hospital, attended by close family members. He had been a patient at the hospital for several days.
A son of the late Samuel James Calvert Sr. and Marion Morse Calvert, he was born Dec. 16, 1928, in Port of Spain, Trinidad, where his father was associated with British-American Tobacco, a leading international tobacco dealer since the early 1900s.
The senior Mr. Calvert later represented British-American Tobacco in both Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and Mr. Calvert Jr. spent much of his youth as a resident of those countries, especially in Managua, Nicaragua.
The family also had strong ties to Virginia, and Sam Calvert Jr. attended Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., from which he was graduated in 1947.
He was a 1951 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
In 1951 he began working for The Austin Company, Inc., a world-wide dealer in leaf tobacco, and moved to Greeneville with his wife, Peggy.
Founded in 1919 and headquartered in Greeneville, The Austin Company became over the years one of the two largest privately-owned tobacco dealers in the world, with a global sales force and clientele.
In addition, the company was for some 70 years a major employer in Greeneville/Greene County, employing several hundred persons during the tobacco-processing months each year.
In 1990 The Austin Company merged with A.C. Monk & Co., of Farmville, N.C., another privately-owned international tobacco dealer, to form a new joint holding company, Monk-Austin, Inc., based in Farmville.
Both companies, however, continued their individual operations.
During his career with The Austin Company, Mr. Calvert, who was fluent in Spanish, represented the company in a number of international markets, especially in Central and South America, although his home always remained here.
He retired in 1994 as chairman of the board of directors of The Austin Company. Prior to being named chairman in 1989, he had served as one of two executive vice presidents of the company.
In addition to his responsibilities with The Austin Company, he was a former president of the Tobacco Association of the United States and a former member of the board of directors of various tobacco associations.
A lifelong Episcopalian, he was an active member and lay reader of St. James Episcopal Church.
He had served a number of terms as Senior Warden of the church vestry, as church treasurer, and in various other leadership roles.
Mr. Calvert was also a former member of the Board of Trustees of Tusculum College.
After his retirement, he and his wife devoted much time to family activities with their children and grandchildren, and other family members.
Survivors, in addition to his wife of 55 years, Peggy Reeves Calvert, include: a daughter and son-in-law: Melanie and Woody Coley of Winter Park, Fla.; a son and daughter-in-law: Gray and Katherine Calvert of Bronxville, N.Y.; five grandchildren: Calvert Coley of New York City, Catherine Coley of Winter Park, and Reeves Calvert, Logan Calvert, and Samuel James Calvert, all of Bronxville; a brother and sister-in-law: William and Marion Calvert of Houston; and a brother-in-law: Dr. Talmadge Reeves of Salisbury, Md.
Mr. Calvert was preceded in death by a son, Samuel J. Calvert III.
The funeral will be conducted at 12 noon on Saturday, May 22, at St. James Episcopal Church. The Rev. Carolyn Isley, rector, will officiate.
The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of the church from 11 a.m. to noon preceding the service.
Honorary pallbearers will be Nat Coleman, Warren Snead, Joe Lane, Hans Andersen, Tom Beckner, John M. Jones, Wylie Milligan, and Tom Austin.
Memorial contributions may be made to either: the Greeneville-Greene County Library, 210 N. Main St., Greeneville, TN 37745; St. James Episcopal Church, 107 West Church St., Greeneville, TN 37743; or the Greeneville-Greene County Humane Society, 950 Hal Henard Road, Greeneville, TN 37743.
Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
