Roll Call Tribute

John W. 'Jay' Adkisson, Jr. '42, 88, of Greenville died Jan. 20, 2009. He was a lieutenant junior grade and commanding officer of a landing ship medium in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific during World War II. He and his wife were second-generation owners of Wise Adkisson & Sons Greenhouse, Florist and Nursery (now Adkisson's Florist), founded by his parents in 1913. He was president of the Texas State Florists Association in 1966 and received the TSFA Lifetime Achievement Award in 1978 in recognition of his contributions to the floral industry. He served two terms as mayor pro tem of Greenville. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Nita; two sons, including John J. Adkisson '73; three grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; a brother, Mike A. Adkisson '51; and a sister.