William Roy Alexander, Jr.

WILLIAM ROY ALEXANDER, JR. William Roy Alexander, Jr. (Roy) died on January 11, 2011, at Isabella Skilled Care Facility in New York City. Roy was born in Fairview on February 3, 1928. He attended Fairview School and graduated from Lee Edwards High School (now Asheville High School). A tour in the Army followed high school and then study at Northwestern University, where he was awarded a degree in journalism. Roy lived and worked in New York City for most of his journalistic career and created the Alexander Company, a successful public relations business. During his career, he authored and co-authored several books on direct selling, time management, and the value of proper speech in business. One of his books, The Direct Salesman's Handbook, has enjoyed multiple printings over the years. Roy was granted membership in the Sons of the American Revolution as a descendant of Revolutionary soldiers, James Alexander and Major William Davidson, who were also early settlers of the Asheville/Bee Tree area. Roy loved the theatre, having written and acted in several plays during High School, and received some small acting parts when later he breached the New York Broadway scene. Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Roy Alexander of Fairview, and his brother, Bruce Alexander of Gallatin, TN. He is survived by his brother, Joe Alexander of Kingston, TN. There will be a ceremony of remembrance at Groce Funeral Home, 1401 Patton Avenue, Asheville, at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 18.