'Dick' Emrey, Civic Leader, Dies At 74
by Doug Chase
Richard Clay Emrey came to Rockbridge County in 1954 to serve as assistant superintendent of Wilton and velvet weaving at the Glasgow plant of James Lees & Sons Co. In the 42 years he lived in this area prior to returning to his native Pennsylvania in 1996, he left an indelible mark on the life of the community, both professionally and in numerous volunteer capacities.
Emrey, who moved to Elizabethtown, Pa., in 1996, died last Friday at a Lancaster, Pa., hospital after a short illness. He was 74.
Having previously served as plant assistant superintendent and plant superintendent, Emrey was named general manager of the Lees Glasgow plant in 1962 and performed those duties until he was named director of manufacturing for the Lees Carpet Division of Burlington Industries in 1966. He became vice president of manufacturing in 1967 and executive vice president in 1969. In 1979 he was senior vice president in charge of all technical services for both domestic and foreign carpet operations. He retired as executive vice president and division manager of manufacturing for the Lees/Burlington House Carpets Division of Burlington Industries in 1981 after 31 years with the operation.
He remained quite active in the local real estate development business for many years after his retirement from Burlington. He was also owner and operator with his wife of the Hallmark shop on Main Street in Lexington for a number of years.
A native of Bethlehem, Pa., Emrey served two years with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Following the war, he earned his bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering from Lehigh University in 1950. He joined James Lees in Bridgeport, Pa., in 1950 in the industrial engineering department. He later took graduate work in management with the American Management Association in New York.
During his four decades as a Lexington resident, Emrey served in numerous professional, governmental and volunteer capacities.
Emrey was a very active member of the Lexington Presbyterian Church, which he served as deacon, elder and trustee. He was an active member of the Masons, serving as a master mason at the Mountain City Lodge 27 in Lexington and Charity Lodge 190 in Jeffersonville, Pa. He was also a member of the Royal Arch Mason Chapter 44 in Lexington, and Knight Templar, Moomaw Commandery 27 of Lexington, and Kazim Temple in Roanoke.
He was a member of the Lexington City School Board from 1976 until 1979 and served as chairman of that board. In addition, he served as chairman of the Joint Committee for Control of Lexington High School in 1977-78. During 1976-77 he was vice chairman of the joint committee. He served on the negotiating team that drafted a new contract for the high school with the county.
He served as campaign chairman for the 1974 Lexington-Rockbridge United Way drive. Prior to Emrey's term, the United Way chairman had served primarily in an honorary capacity. Emrey was a "working" chairman — actively involved in setting up the campaign, procuring the division chairmen and obtaining increased business support. In 1995 and 1996, Emrey and his wife, Marilyn, served as honorary campaign chairmen for the local United Way.
A past president and board member of the Lexington Jaycees, he was named an honorary life member in 1960. Washington and Lee University honored him twice, with a 1970 induction into Beta Gamma Sigma — a national honorary business fraternity — and a 1974 induction into Omicron Delta Kappa — a national honorary leadership fraternity.
A charter member of the Virginia Business Council, Emrey also served as a director of the Virginia Manufacturer's Association, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, and the Lexington branch of First Union Bank.
A man of diverse interests and talents, he also served at various times as a director of the Stonewall Jackson Hospital board, Rockbridge Library Foundation, Historic Lexington Foundation, Rockbridge County branch of the American Heart Association and the Rockbridge County branch of the American Cancer Society.
He was a past president and board member of the Lexington Lions Club, the Lexington Jaycees and the Lexington Golf and Country Club.
Emrey is survived by his wife of 49 years, Marilyn Hoke Emrey; four daughters, Marilyn "Molly" Woody of Lexington, Barbara "Bobbie" Meier of Leesburg, Susan Bastnagel of Cherry Hill, N.J., and Katherine Schulze of Fairfax; and a son, Richard Clay Emrey Jr. of Lexington; six grandsons; and two granddaughters.
A memorial service will be held in the John S. Sell Chapel of Masonic Homes in Elizabethtown on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2000, at 3 p.m. Visitation will take place from 1:30 p.m. until the service. A celebration of Emrey's life will be held in Lee Chapel on the W&L campus at 2 p.m. on Dec. 17, 2000, which would have been his 75th birthday.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2720 Enterprise Parkway, Suite 107, Richmond, Va. 23294.