RALEIGH H. POWELL, JR.

ANDERSON, SC - Raleigh Henley Powell, Jr., 87, passed away at peace with his heavenly Father on Sunday, January 22, 2012 at the Rainey Hospice House in Anderson, SC. 

He was a Navy veteran of World War II serving in Hawaii and the Pacific.  He and his family were long-time members of Washington Pike United Methodist Church in Knoxville, TN, where he served as a teacher, class president, and president of the men's club.

His professional life spanned two careers.  Following graduation in communications from the University of Georgia, he launched a career in broadcasting, serving as a newscaster, program director, and sports director for several stations in Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.  He began his work in sports by broadcasting baseball for the minor league Rock Hill, SC Chiefs, both live and by teletype.  He did play-by-play on the  Clemson Tigers football network in the early 1950's as well as baseball for the Anderson, SC Rebels in the minor Tri-State League.  Later, he was a color analyst on the Vol Football network in Knoxville, TN. 

In 1962, Raleigh switched careers by accepting a position with Oak Ridge National Laboratory for work in public information, as a news editor, and later as a technical writer/editor for which he was the recipient of several national awards from the Society of Technical Communications.  Raleigh retired from Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 

In his community, he was quite involved as a coach of minor league (peewee) football.  Both of his sons played on his team in their youth.

Raleigh is preceded in death by his loving, understanding wife and best friend of 65 years, Dorothy Chamblee Powell, by his youngest son, Christopher Allen Powell, at the tender age of 43.  Survivors include his daughter, Jackie Nelson and her husband, Al of Anderson and son, Raleigh Powell, III of Knoxville, plus many friends, relatives, colleagues, locally and distant.  He is also survived by 6 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be held at 4PM Thursday at Sullivan-King Mortuary, Northeast Chapel with Rev. Elwood Orr officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. Entombment will take place in Knoxville at 1PM Friday at Highland South Memorial Park Mausoleum with Dr. Pat Polis officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621 or Washington Pike United Methodist Church, 2241 Washington Pike, Knoxville, TN 37917-3998. 

SULLIVAN-KING MORTUARY, NORTHEAST CHAPEL www.sullivanking.com