Henry Cox McCall Jr.

1925 - 2019

Henry Cox McCall, Jr.

Nashville - Henry Cox McCall, Jr. (Buddy, Hank) Family patriarch, World War II Navy Veteran,

entrepreneur, and friend to many, passed away at home on April 17, 2019, surrounded by his loving wife Sue and family. A native of Nashville, Henry was born January 14, 1925 to Ruth Bolling McCall and Henry Cox McCall, Sr. The first grandchild for each grandparent, he grew up surrounded with love, enjoyed a wonderful childhood, and spoke often of his abundant and blessed life.

At the young age of eight, Henry developed his work ethic by mowing lawns on Kenner Avenue for .25 cents a lawn. Later he delivered newspapers with the able throwing assistance of Bill Wade, a future Vanderbilt and NFL quarterback. Henry attended Woodmont Elementary School making lifelong friends who gave him the name "Buddy." One of those friends Dr. Fred Goldner and Henry shared the honor of being co-valedictorians of the eighth grade at Woodmont. Attending Hillsboro High School, he played basketball and football for Coach Ed Hessey. He was a member of Hillsboro's first four-year graduating class of 1942.

When Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan, December 7, 1941, Henry was a senior in high school looking forward to furthering his education at Vanderbilt University. He volunteered and was accepted in the Navy at age seventeen, but not called to serve until July 1943. He was assigned to the Navy V-12 College Training Program where young college men received officer training. Henry studied naval science at Rice University and upon graduation was commissioned an Ensign in the US Navy. Later he was sent to Pearl Harbor for Combat Information Officer training. After months studying he was commissioned a CIO and assigned duty on the destroyer USS Madison which would be his home in the Pacific for two years.

Two vivid memories of this time in the Pacific: being one of the first rescue vessels to reach the sinking Indianapolis where 1196 young soldiers perished; being in Tokyo Bay on V-J day witnessing President Truman sign the Peace Treaty with the Japanese Emperor. Having turned 22 Henry remained in Tokyo until his release from active duty. He then served in the Naval Reserve where he achieved the grade of Lieutenant Commander.

Henry returned to Nashville in 1946 to complete his undergraduate studies at Vanderbilt. In 1950, he graduated from Vanderbilt School of Law. While at Vanderbilt he served as pro consul of Sigma Chi Fraternity. In 1952, he married Joanne Wallace and moved to Columbia, TN. He pursued a career in law before transitioning to the insurance industry which he found to be more rewarding. He pioneered the concept of underwriting and marketing to professional and trade groups through his company, Mid-South Benefit Plans, Inc.

In 1971, he established Financial Institution Services, Inc. (FISI) with Bill Looper and Travis Anderson, a company which pioneered selling club packages to bank customers. FISI followed a meteoric rise, spawning other entries in the field undertaking similar efforts. As an adjunct to the services provided by FISI, he founded a subsidiary, Teletravel Services, Inc., with Howard Sanders. Teletravel provided travel services as an enhancement to FISI bank customers, immediate acceptance of this service resulted in Teletravel rising to become ranked as number four in the country. In 1983, he took FISI public on the NYSE and subsequently merged the company with Comp-U-Card International in 1985. Henry began another successful career in 1991, developing real estate through his firm, Prime Properties, Inc. Developments include Eastgate Business Park and Nashville East Logistics Center in Lebanon.

In 1995, Henry married Wanda Sue Doyle. They enjoyed 24 happy years together, traveling, and entertaining family and friends. Henry especially enjoyed visiting his ancestral homeland of Scotland. One of his favorite hobbies was fishing, especially deep-sea fishing in the Gulf, Alaska, and Belize. A very competitive tennis player, he won many matches at Richland Country Club where he served four years as club president. An enthusiastic and loyal Vanderbilt Commodore fan, he faithfully attended baseball, basketball and football games.

Henry was predeceased by his parents, his beloved sister Ruth Ann McCall Tigert, brother-in-law Robert Tigert and Joanne Barbara Wallace McCall, the mother of his children.

Left to cherish his memory and the great times he provided are his devoted wife Sue, son Henry Edward McCall (Cathy) daughters Barbara McCall Pitman (Jim) Sue McCall Thomas (Scott) stepdaughters Wendy Doyle Griffin (Eric) Lisa Doyle Hill (Ken), grandchildren Rachel Neal James Pitman (Katherine) Andrew Pitman (Emma Hensler) Elizabeth Thomas Daniel Thomas Harding McCall Joanna McCall Matthew McCall step-grandchildren Evie Griffin Matthew Griffin Molly Griffin Ethan Hill Alexander Hill great grandchildren Lauren Pitman David Pitman Ryan Pitman Clara Neal Henry Neal nephews Bob Tigert III (Mary Ellen) Bruce Tigert (Cynthia) niece Leanne Tigert (Emily Geoghegan) grandniece Adair Tigert grandnephews Hunter Tigert (Tiffany) Johnathan Tigert.

A celebration of his wonderful life will be held at Forest Hills Baptist Church 2101 Old Hickory Blvd, Nashville, April 27. Visitation 9:30; Service 11:00. Dr. Sam Boyd officiating.

In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution to Forest Hills Baptist Church or the Autism Society of Boulder County Boulder, Colorado.