Bill Black Cadillac Funeral Cars

CADILLAC DEALER BILL BLACK DIES\ HE RACKED UP ACES ON THE GOLF COURSE AND HIGH SALES IN THE SHOWROOM.

William H. Black Jr., who, when not playing golf, sold Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles in Greensboro for nearly 50 years, died Friday at his home.

The founder of Bill Black Cadillac Oldsmobile was 77. Friends and family say he had battled cancer as furiously as he had fought as a Marine in the Pacific during World War II.More than a year ago, he was confined to a wheelchair and could barely talk because of tubes attached to his stomach. His doctors had told him he wouldn't enjoy good food or talk above a whisper again.

``Within a year he was eating barbecue and talking on the phone,' says Dick Howard, one of Black's closest friends. ``He just kept bouncing back.'

He had recovered enough this past February to shoot 86 on the golf course. Once he reached his late 60s, he often shot his age and did so the last time at age 76. He also made 11 holes in one in his long golfing career and scared a rare double eagle - two strokes on a par-5 hole.

Black is the second veteran Greensboro car dealer to die recently. The other was Garson Rice, founder of Rice Toyota, who, like Black, was a Marine during World War II. He died March 19 at 79.

While Rice was a workaholic, Black cherished his time away from the dealership. In his younger days, he'd tend to business in the morning and golf in the afternoon.

He was devoted for years to what's now the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro, the city's PGA Tour tournament. From 1958-84, Black traveled with a Greensboro Jaycees contingent to other PGA Tour events to recruit players to come to Greensboro. One - Gary Player, now a golf legend - bought his first Cadillac from Black while playing here.

Black also used contacts to attract big-name celebrities to the tournament's Wednesday pro-am. His biggest catch, Bob Hope, came in the 1960s. On the first tee at Sedgefield Country Club, where the tournament was then played, Hope teed up his ball and then turned to joke with the gallery. Black and others, who were playing with Hope, replaced his ball with one that exploded on impact.

Hope got even on the first green, when Black stood over a birdie putt as an enormous crowd watched.

``Bob Hope leaned over his shoulder,' recalls Josette Black, Black's wife, ``and said, 'Your fly is unzipped.' '

It wasn't, but Black was fooled, and the gallery laughed. The Jaycees named Black honorary chairman of the 1967 tournament, and in 1976 made him an honorary life member of the chapter.

Black moved to Greensboro in 1955 from his native Atlanta to buy Adamson Cadillac & Olds, which was at Church and East Market streets. Not yet 30, Black became the youngest Cadillac dealer in the United States.

In 1966, he moved the business to East Bessemer Avenue, where it remains and is run by his son, William H. Black III. Black Jr. remained as chairman of the dealership's board. He received the Cadillac Master Dealer Award five times, the highest award among Cadillac dealers.

Black grew up in Atlanta near Bobby Jones, the golf legend, who captured golf's grand slam in 1930 by winning the U.S. and British Opens and the U.S. and British amateurs.

Black later married Jones' daughter. The marriage ended in divorce. In 1987, Black married Greensboro merchant Josette Hamel, who owned Josette's Boutique and Bridal. Since 1990, the couple divided the year between Greensboro and Naples, Fla.

Black attended the University of Georgia but quit to join the Marines during World War II. He saw action in Guam, Guadalcanal, Saipan and Kwajalein. His battlefield performance earned him a commission as a second lieutenant.

His funeral will be at 4 p.m. Sunday at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, where he was a member. Burial will be in Westminster Gardens.

In addition to his widow and son Bill Black III, Black is survived by another son, Ralph (Rob) Black, and two daughters, Merry Black and Clare McSwain, both of Greensboro.

The family will be at Hanes-Linberry Funeral Home on North Elm Street from 5:30 to 8 p.m. today.

Memorials may be made to The Old North State Council, Boy Scouts of America, 1405 Westover Terrace, Greensboro, NC 27408, or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, 2500 Summit Ave., Greensboro, NC 28405. Black was a co-founder 26 years ago of the Swing-A-Club for Scouting Golf Tournament. Proceeds pay for youngsters to attend Boy Scout camp.\ \ Contact Jim Schlosser at 373-7081 or jschlosser@news-record.com

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Bill Black Cadillac Funeral Cars

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