Marvin Pope "Ham" Anthony

MARVIN POPE ANTHONY "Ham" Marvin Pope "Ham" Anthony, 83, of West Palm Beach and Lake James, North Carolina, devoted son, beloved husband and father and loyal friend passed away on Sunday, November 10, 2002 from cancer after a years illness. Born in Weaverville, NC on October 14, 1919, at the family summer home, he was the son of Gertrude Holden and Emile Du Bose Anthony, Sr., pioneer residents of this city. He attended Miss Eckler's private school, Palm Beach High School, graduating in 1942 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.S. in commerce and a major in accounting. He was a member and president of the ATO fraternity and lettered in varsity tennis with the team who lost only one match in four years. He was cocaptain of the tennis team and remembered well his only two losses to Princeton and Yale in his three years on the varsity. Upon graduation from college, Ham joined the army and was commissioned a second lieutenant at Ft. Benning, GA. He served with the 77th Division of the 301st Infantry Regiment in the South Pacific, participating in the battles of Leyte, Okinawa and Guam, and the military occupation of Japan. He was discharged as captain in 1945. During these years he served with Nelson Rockefeller and Colonel Thomas Manuel for whom the bridge on the Florida turnpike is named. Returning home after the war, Ham assumed his life-long association with Anthony's department store which has been in continuous existence since 1895 as one of the few remaining family-owned retail businesses in the country. The company has grown into a chain of ladies' specialty stores with Ham as its president until his semi-retirement when his son assumed the title. Ham joined the First United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches in 1919 in the original building at City Place, now known as "The Harriet". Upon his return from World War II, he became a junior high Sunday School teacher. Later, he taught with special pride the adult Semper Fidelis class for over 40 years together with his good friend, Madison Pacetti. He served faithfully with dedication in many areas of the church serving capably as chairperson and member of varied church committees: administrative council, education, finance, and of pastor/parish relations. He served as chairperson of the building committee for the renovation of First Church in 1962. The same church building where his father, E.D. Anthony, Sr., had served as Chairman of the Building Committee and laid the cornerstone in 1926. Later, when the church was sold in 1987, he served on the finance committee for the funding of the new complex on Brandywine. In addition to his church responsibilities, Ham was an active participant and leader in many areas of civic and community life. He served as president of the WPB Rotary Club, the Merchants Association, the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, and the Downtown Development Authority. He was chairman of the American Red Cross Fund Drive, the United Way Fund Drive, and the original organizer and president of the first local Goodwill Industries where he served many years. In 1955, Ham was honored with the Distinguished Service Award of the WPB Junior Chamber of Commerce as the outstanding young man of the year. Ham was elected to the WPB City Commission with two terms as Mayor (1972-73 and 1977-78). During these years there was rapid growth and there were many changes in the city. He was particularly interested in the construction of the first bicycle trail along the WPB intracoastal which he initiated and accomplished with city funds. The beautification of the Okeechobee Road entrance to the city was the first of its kind and was privately funded through Ham's efforts. Recently, the city of West Palm Beach honored Ham by proclaiming October 14, 2002, as "Ham Anthony Day" in recognition of his many years of distinguished service to the city and this community. Governor Dan McCarty appointed Ham to the Pilot's Commission for the Port of Palm Beach and he served as its president. He served as director of Sun Banks, the Norton Art Gallery and Florida Power and Light Co. His time on this board was under the leadership of his life-long friend, Marshall McDonald, the chairman and CEO of the company. Mr. Anthony enjoyed membership in the Lake Worth Pioneer Association, the Tuscawilla Club, the Sailfish Club of Florida, Bear Lakes Country Club, the Society of the Four Arts, the Historical Society of P.B. Co., the West Union Athletic Club in Morganton, NC, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Order of Kentucky Colonels, Mayacoo Lakes Country Club, The Tennis Club of the Palm Beaches, and the New York Athletic Club. With such an active family, civic and business life and many varied interests, Ham always found time for his great passion, tennis. He won the WPB city tennis championship at 18 years of age. He was the Southern Conference Doubles Champion for two consecutive years. During World War II, he played exhibition tennis in Honolulu with Bobby Riggs, a nationally syndicated event. He won the Florida League of Cities tennis tournament three years in a row and retained the trophy for the City of WPB. He holds a record as the Florida State Doubles Champion in all of the age groups ranging from 40 to 70. He interested his family in the game and they were honored to be named tennis family of the year by the Southside Tennis Association under the direction of coach Whitney Powers. He and his wife, Betsy won the Mayacoo Lakes C.C. mixed doubles championship. His proudest trophy was when his son and two daughters and Betsy won every division of the mother-son and mother-daughter, father-son, father-daughter championship at the Tennis Club of the Palm Beaches. His life was always a love game. It was Ham's purchase of a camping trailer in 1961 that sparked the family's enthusiasm for their three long summer trips all over the USA and Canada. In addition, he organized many Florida excursions to introduce family friends to this unique opportunity. It pleased him greatly that now his grandchildren have continued to enjoy the merits of his example. Travel was an important part of his life with Betsy. They traveled extensively to Great Britain Europe, Africa and Asia and had just recently returned from a river cruise in Provence. Ham Anthony is survived by his wife of 51 years, Betsy and their four children: Bonni Anthony Walden (Litton) of Charlotte, NC; M. Pope Anthony, Jr. (Jackie) of Jupiter; Archer Anthony Barry (Dan, Jr.) of Miami; Holden Anthony Davis (Tom) of Paris, IL, and six grandchildren: Daniel, III and Holden Barry; Archer and Betsy Davis and Kristin and Pope Anthony, III. Also surviving are his sister-in-law, Anita J. Anthony and numerous nieces and nephews. Ham was preceded in death by his sister, Cornelia Anthony Sned, Salisbury, NC and two brothers Carl H. Anthony and Emile D. Anthony, Jr. of the city. Friends may call at Quattlebaum Holleman Burse Funeral Home, 1201 S. Olive, WPB between the hours of 5:00 and 7:00 PM on Wednesday, November 13. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, November 14, 2002 at 4:00 PM at the Gathering Place of the United Methodist Church, 900 Brandywine Road, WPB, with the Rev. David McEntire, Pastor, officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches, designated for the New Sanctuary Fund, 900 Brandywine Road, WPB, FL 33409. QUATTLEBAUM-HOLLEMAN-BURSE FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED www.Quattlebaum.org