Robert M. Swicegood
March 22, 1915 ~ April 1, 2000
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
He was widely known in Western North Carolina as an outstanding athlete in his early years and throughout his life as an outdoorsman and ardent environmentalist.
Born March 22, 1915, in Winston-Salem, he was a son of the late Carr M. and Nora Armstrong Swicegood of Asheville, and he had lived most of his life in Asheville. He was a 1933 graduate of Asheville High School where he excelled as a football player and also participated in other team sports.
He attended Duke University after which he began a varied career which included three years as a line coach at Asheville High and coaching athletics at Asheville-Biltmore College (now UNCA) and football at Brevard College and Mars Hill College.
His business career included insurance and securities, automotive sales, and a garden store where he pioneered in the promotion of irrigation equipment and small garden machinery.
He retired from Southern Railway in 1980 and thereafter devoted his time to gardening, a lifelong interest, and to the study of environmental issues.
Elected several times to the Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District of North Carolina, he received a ten year service award and a Distinguished Service award as Chairman of the District and “for his pioneering efforts to establish the farmland preservation program”.
He was an active member of the Democratic Party.
He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Lenoir Henry Swicegood; one son, Robert “Mac” Swicegood of Asheville; two grandchildren, Stephanie Chittick and her husband Rhys, of Columbia, SC, and Taylor M. Swicegood and his wife Alysia of Shelby, NC; three great-grandchildren, Chelsea, Logan and Blakely Chittick; three sisters, Margaret Fort and Bess Swicegood of Asheville and Jane Elins and her husband Herb of Tucson, AZ; a brother, Joe C. Swicegood and his wife Peggy of Asheville, and a number of nieces and nephews.
His family will receive friends from 5:30 - 7 pm Tuesday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue.
A private family service is planned for a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to The Nature Conservancy, NC Chapter, 4011 University Drive, Suite 201, Durham, NC 27707.
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DEAR JOE AND BESSIE:
i KNOW HOW YOU HATE TO LOSE
SUCH A CLOSE ONE. HE WILL AL-
WAYS BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS
VALUE TO THE CITY OF ASHEVILLE
AND THE MANY YOUTH TAUGHT THE
GOOD CONDUCT OF SPORTMANSHIP
ON THE FIELD AS ELSEHWERE IN
LIFE. THOUGH HE WAS SOMEWHAT
OLDER, I WILL TOO REMEMBER
HIS GREAT GOOD CHARACTER. MAY
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. LOVE!!
Dear Joe and family, I did not know Bob, but I am sure David did, and he was, no doubt, as special as all of the Swicegood family are. With love and sincere sympathy
Joe, Peggy, and Bess Swicegood and your family. We are never ready to lose our loved ones and we know Bob was special. Please know we are thinking of you!
Joe Clark
Bob, is a memory to us…..
Joe you are remembered along
with all your family in the
loss of your brother, Bob.
With faith – there is forever.
Ray and Mary Estes
and Betty Estes
A jewel here on earth and a jewel in heaven-He’ll brighten the kingdom around GOD’S GREAT THRONE. GOODBYE,BOB
ALL THE INDORF’s-JUANITA,JEANETTE,JESSIEand BUDDY