Two graduates saluted Two Webb alumni were honored on Friday, April 23 at a special ceremony held during the Reunion celebration.
Stephens was inducted into the Webb Legacy Donor Society in 2008, in recognition of his philanthropy.
Charles “Pick” Stephens ‘56 of Atlanta, Ga. and Bob F. Thompson ‘65 of Nashville, Tenn. were inducted into Webb’s Distinguished Alumni Society.
Stephens has been an active member of the Board of Trustees since 1979, except for one year when he served as a member emeritus. He is currently serving on the board and is a member of the Development Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee.
The award is bestowed annually by the Webb Alumni Board to honor graduates whose personal and professional accomplishments reflect highly upon themselves and their alma mater; and who have demonstrated a strong interest in supporting The Webb School while making significant contributions in their chosen professions.
Charles “Pick” Stephens The executive vice president of Norman W. Paschall Company, Inc. and a director for Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., Stephens said he was honored and surprised to learn of the award. “I never have thought too much about what I do,” he said. “You just kind of get up in the morning and thank the Lord for letting you put two feet on the ground.”
“I started working in the warehouse when I was about 12 or 13-years-old,” he said. A longtime supporter of The Webb School,
Asked why he continues to support Webb, he responded, “It’s the mission, the integrity, the academic excellence – everything that Webb stands for.” Stephens and his wife have two adult sons, Austin, who resides in Atlanta, Ga., and is a partner in a private client group at Merrill Lynch, and Scott, who runs a cattle/timber operation in Lake Panasoffkee, Fla.
Bob F. Thompson Bob F. Thompson is likewise a stalwart supporter of The Webb School, and is an accomplished attorney. A partner at the Nashville law firm Bass, Berry & Sims, Thompson is listed in “The Best Lawyers in America®,” and has been named one of the best banking lawyers since 2004 by the
“Nashville Business Journal.” He is also listed in the “Lawdragon 3000 Leading Lawyers in America” and “Mid-South Super Lawyers (2006-2009).” A member of Webb’s Board of Trustees for 19 years, Thompson chaired the Executive Committee from 1994 to 1998 and served as Chairman of the Board from 1998 to 2002. In 1988, he led the Search Committee to find a new headmaster for Webb. “I was sort of a young trustee for that process, only in my second year on the board,” he said. “We were able to find Jon Frere and I’m quite proud of that. He is our longest serving head in recent years.” While he is proud of his professional success, Thompson said his achievements for the school are among his greatest. While chairing the Webb Board of Trustees, Thompson was instrumental in making the new Barton Gymnasium a reality. “It took us an excruciating amount of time to get it designed, the necessary funds raised, and the job completed,” Thompson said. “But it was worth it. It was our last great, big project.” Thompson’s profession is integrally linked to Webb as well. The lawyer has represented the school for most of his legal career. “Most alumni have only their alumni relationship when they leave Webb, some have an alumni relationship and a trustee relationship. In addition to these, I’ve had a long term, ongoing relationship as the school’s lawyer,” he explained. “It definitely gives you a different perception of the school, but representing Webb has been fun.” A native of Columbia, Miss., Thompson earned an A.B. degree from Princeton University and a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard University. He and his wife, Mary, have three adult children, Catherine and W. Benjamin Thompson, both residents of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Paul, who resides in Nashville.
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A graduate of Tusculum College, Stephens made his career in the textile fibers and by-products (waste) industry, following in the footsteps of his father, Robert L. “Bob” Stephens, who founded R.L. Stephens Company, Inc. The company eventually merged with Norman W. Paschall Company, based in Peachtree City, Ga.
After marrying his wife, Sandra, in 1965, he extended his family involvement with Webb to his father-in-law, the late-Milton Austin Davis. In addition to supporting operating needs at the school, contributions from the M. Austin Davis Foundation, Inc. helped build the Davis Dormitory and the Austin Davis-Bryant Woosley Computer/ Science Building on campus. Stephens is the President of the foundation.
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