William S. Wire II

Bill was born on January 5, 1932, the son of Dr. William Shidaker Wire and Gladys Buckmaster Wire. He is survived by his wife Cheryl Christine Wire, his daughter Deborah Buckmaster Wire, his grandson Kenton William Freeman, Jr., his great grandson Kenton William Freeman, III, his stepdaughter Natalie James and her daughters Caroline James and Sarah James. He is predeceased by his first wife Alice Jones Wire and his daughter Alice Wire Freeman.

Bill attended public schools in Selma, Alabama. He attended the University of the South at Sewanee before graduating from the University of Alabama with an AB in history and an LLB degree in law. He then graduated from New York University with an LLM degree in taxation.

Bill served in the United States Air Force for two years of active duty in the Judge Advocate General’s Department and was discharged from the USAF Reserve with the rank of Captain.

After leaving active duty in the Air Force, Bill practiced law with Hamilton, Denniston, Butler and Riddick in Mobile, Alabama.

In 1960, Bill worked in the Talladega Insurance Agency in Talladega, Alabama.

In 1962, Bill went to work at GENESCO Inc. in Nashville as a lawyer in the Legal Department.

Bill completed his business career at GENESCO, rising to Treasurer in 1969, Chief Financial Officer in 1974, and Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer in 1986.

In addition to GENESCO, Bill served on the Board of Directors of First American Corporation, First American National Bank, Dollar General Corp., and Truxton Trust, of which he was a Founder.

Bill was active in community affairs, serving as the Director and Chairman of the PENCIL Foundation, as a Member of the David Lipscomb University Business Cabinet, as a Trustee of the YMCA Foundation of Nashville, on the Board of Governors and as Chairman of the Tennessee Association of Business, on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, on the Board of Directors of the Nashville Better Business Bureau, on the Board of Directors of the Martha O’Bryan Center, as a member of the Nashville Area Junior Chamber of Commerce, as a participant in Leadership Nashville, as Treasurer and Trustee and on the Executive Committee of the Leadership Nashville Foundation, on the Corporate Advisory Committee of the Middle Tennessee Minority Purchasing Council, on the Advisory Board of INROADS, on the President’s Advisory Council of Tennessee State University, as a member of the Nashville Rotary Club, as Director of the National Association of Manufacturers in Washington, D.C., as State Finance Committee Chairman for Bill Frist for U.S. Senate, as Chairman and member of the Tennessee Judicial Evaluation Guidelines Commission, and as a Member of the State of Tennessee Judicial Performance Program Committee.

Bill joined First Presbyterian Church of Nashville in 1962, where he remained a member. He was also a member of the University Club, New York City, and the Downtown Rotary Club in Nashville.

Bill loved golf. He played until his late 80s and shot his age at Belle Meade Country Club when he was 75. Over the years he was a member of the Talladega Country Club, Hillwood Country Club, Shoal Creek Golf Club in Birmingham, Alabama, Burnt Pine Golf Club in Miramar Beach, Florida, the Golf Club of Tennessee and Belle Meade Country Club, where he served as Vice President in 1993 and Board Member from 1991 to 1993.

The family invites friends and loved ones to join for the celebration of his life, which will take place at Belle Meade Country Club on Friday, July 24 from 2:00–4:00 pm. A private graveside service for immediate family will be held on Saturday.