Robert W. "Bob" Speight Sr.

SPEIGHT Robert W. Speight Sr., "Bob," lost his battle with cancer on Thursday, March 1, 2007 surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was born October 7, 1930 in Raleigh, N.C. He graduated from N.C. State in 1953, where he was an All-American basketball player and a member of the ROTC. Bob played professional basketball for the Phillips Sixty-Sixers. He went on to serve in the United States Army as a 1st Lieutenant, residing in Fort Bliss, Texas. He lived in Raleigh and Staunton, Va. before settling in Richmond. In 1960, he began his successful venture into the trucking industry and co-founded E&S Contract Carrier, where he served as president for 35 years. He was well respected in his industry and devotedly loved by his employees. Bob's love for his university spanned his entire life and he was an avid member and supporter of the Wolfpack Club and various planning organizations. In 2006, he was inducted into the Legends of the ACC and in January of 2007, he received the N.C. State University Ronnie Shavlik Award of Merit. He is survived by his wife, Mary Estes Speight; his children, Chris Brown and her husband, Mace, of Charleston, S.C., Elizabeth Cooley and her husband, John, of Wagram, N.C. and Bobby Speight Jr. and his wife, Martha, of Richmond; and seven grandchildren. A special thank you goes to all the ICU staff at St. Mary's Hospital. Visitation will be held at Bliley Funeral Homes' Central Chapel, 3801 Augusta Ave., on Sunday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. A private service and interment will be held on Monday. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to your favorite charity.