Ferd Olbert Lawson, Jr., of Wilmington and Blowing Rock, North Carolina, died peacefully on Monday, December 29, 2008. He was born in Sumter, South Carolina on September 10, 1925. He was the son of Ferdinand Olbert Lawson and Lalla Duncan Lawson. Mr. Lawson is survived by his wife of 58 years, Martha Best Yorke Lawson and his son, Coleman Yorke Lawson of Memphis, Tennessee. He is also survived by his Brother in Law, Aaron Jones Yorke IV of New York City, his cousin Robert Henry Lockwood of Charleston, South Carolina, and several cousins. Mr. Lawson attended The Citadel, Charleston, South Carolina and was called to serve in the Pacific Theatre of operations during World War II. He served three years in the U. S. Army from which he was discharged with the rank of First Lieutenant, Infantry. He resumed his education at The University of North Carolina, where he graduated in 1949 with a B.A. in History. In addition, he attended the Harvard Business School Seminar for Top Management in Retailing. Mr. Lawson’s career began in sales with a local distribution company in Sumter, which he left for a position with Cannon Mills, growing through the ranks to regional Vice President. When Springs Mills (now Spring Industries) made the decision to launch its towel line Mr. Lawson was hired as National Sales Manager, and based out of the New York headquarters. In his time with Springs, Lawson came to know national retailers and introduced for the first time, designers to this market segment such as Bill Blass and Emillio Pucci. His experience with retailing, merchandising, and sales served him well when Lawson accepted the position of Vice President and General Manager of Belk Stores Services in 1972. In his years with Belk, Lawson introduced designers to the Charlotte, North Carolina-based store group, such as Blass, Charlotte Ford, and Diane von Furstenberg, among others. In 1981, Lawson was offered the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Frederick Atkins, Inc. by a search committee of the Atkins Board of Directors. Frederick Atkins Inc., a worldwide marketing research, product development, and retailing firm served its member department store groups such as B. Altman, Marshall Fields, The Broadway, John Wanamaker, Dillard’s, and The Hudson Bay Company, and other member store groups. Under Lawson’s direction Atkins developed a private label division and conducted the buying services for the store groups, giving the member stores a competitive advantage. During Lawson’s tenure the number of Atkins member stores grew and the company’s foreign office relationships expanded globally. In 1987, Lawson was named Chairman. He retired from Frederick Atkins in 1993. Mr. Lawson devoted time to philanthropic causes, chairing annual fund raising drives for the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, the National Jewish Hospital and research Center, The Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, the Girl Scouts Fund Drive, and The Fashion Institute of Technology, among others. Mr. Lawson was honored for his efforts by organizations such as National Jewish Center for Immunology (1986), Men’s Fashion Association American Image Awards (1989), the Denver Hospital City of Hope “”Spirit of Life”” (1993), among others. Mr. Lawson served on the Board of Directors of The Fifth Avenue Association, The Fashion Institute of Technology, and Younkers Department Stores, Inc. He was a Founder of The Bank of Darien, in Darien, Connecticut. The Lawsons resided in Darien, Connecticut for thirty years where Mr. Lawson was an Elder of the Noroton Presbyterian Church. They moved to Wilmington, North Carolina in 1994, where Mr. Lawson was active with Plantation Village Life Care Center, Second Helpings, and the First Presbyterian Church, where he was an Elder. He was on the Board of the Cameron Art Museum. Mr. Lawson was an avid golfer and enjoyed time spent with his friends. He enjoyed his association with the Blowing Rock Art History Museum. A funeral service will be held for Mr. Lawson at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 2, 2009, at First Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, North Carolina. Interment will be in Concord, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church, 125 S. Third Street, Wilmington, North Carolina 28401, and The Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCareCenter, 2222 S. 17th Street, Wilmington, North Carolina 28401. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.andrewsmortuary.com Tags: 1946
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