Travis H. Tomlinson

Travis (Tommy) Hocutt Tomlinson passed away on Friday, May 11, 2012 at the Oaks at Mayview after a period of declining health. He was born in Auburn, North Carolina on September 17, 1913 to William Parker Tomlinson and Della Hocutt Tomlinson. Throughout his life, he never seemed to meet anyone he didnt already know. In 1929, while attending high school, he served as a page in the North Carolina Senate. He graduated from Garner High School in 1931 and was a member of the N.C. State University, College of Education, Class of 1938. In 1940, he met Margaret Gertrude Waddell. They were married on December 12, 1942 at Camp Roberts, CA prior to his deployment. They enjoyed 66 years of marriage prior to her passing on December 22, 2008. They had two children, Travis H. Tomlinson, Jr. and W. Parker Tomlinson. After graduating from high school, he worked at several hotels in Asheville, NC and for Lowes Theatres in Washington, DC. Over the course of the two years in Washington, he met many of the radio stars of the day. In 1935, he took a position with the Farm Security Administration in the regional office in Raleigh. He supervised contract and procurement activities in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. He continued in this position until 1942 when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He entered the U.S. Army as a Private but was offered the opportunity to attend the artillerys Officer Candidate School in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He served in the Pacific Theatre and was awarded a Bronze Star for outstanding service in the Philippines Campaign. He was discharged as a Major in 1945. From 1945 to 1957, he served as Vice-President and General Manager, Carolina Surgical Supply Company, in Raleigh. He outfitted many of the hospitals and doctors offices in central and eastern North Carolina. It was through his work at Carolina Surgical that he foresaw the need for what we recognize today as Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing Homes. However, he was unsuccessful in convincing others to open such facilities. In the end, he took up the challenge. On September 1, 1957, he opened Mayview Convalescent Center in the former Wake County Tuberculosis Hospital. He served as president and administrator until his retirement in 1978. He laid the foundation for the motto: Where Caring Is a Family Tradition. After his retirement, he became the facility gofer - go for this and go for that. Additionally, through his foresight, land was available for the construction of Whitaker Glen in 1984. Eventually, these properties were combined into a Continuing Care Retirement Community. He was active in the Raleigh (Host) Lions Club, the Carolina Country Club, the Capital City Club, the Stag Club, the Greater Raleigh YMCA, the United Fund, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Wake County Mental Health Society, the North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and Rex Hospital Building Fund Campaign (Co-Chaired with his friend Hefty Thiem). He was a Board Member of the Research Triangle Regional Planning Commission, a Board Member of the Wake County Health Department, President of the North Carolina League of Municipalities, a Committee Chair for the National League of Cities, Chair of the N.C. State University Public Relations Committee, a Member of the Raleigh City Council for a total of eight years, four of which he served as Mayor. His is particularly remembered for his handling of the difficult period following the death of Martin Luther King in April 1968. He was recognized as Tarheel of the Week by the News & Observer on November 11, 1968. For many years, he and his playing partners had a standing Wednesday afternoon golf outing at the Carolina Country Club. Additionally, he spent many happy days at his cottage at Kerr Lake (located near best friends Bettye and Jeff Senter), enjoyed attending N.C. State athletic events and taking trips with Margaret and the boys. He was predeceased by his wife Margaret and his brother, Gordon William Tomlinson. He is survived by his sons Travis and wife Linda and Parker and wife Anne; granddaughter Alison and husband Eddie Willis; grandsons Adam and wife Addie, Ben and wife Laura, Will and Lindsey Moore; and great granddaughter Margaret Willis, who is so new he never really got a chance to meet her. The family wishes to thank the staff at Mayview, every single one of them, for their friendship and loving care. They referred to him as Mr. T and will miss him just as much as his family. The family also wishes to thank James S. Parsons, MD for his many years of care. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 15 from 12:30pm to 2:00pm in the parlor at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church. The funeral service will follow. Burial will be at Montlawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, 2209 Fairview Road, Raleigh, NC 27608 or The Tomlinson COM Faculty/Staff Endowment at the NCSU College of Management, Campus Box 8614/Nelson Hall, Raleigh, NC 27695-8614.