James Graham Kenan

James Graham Kenan Attorney, private investor and philanthropist, died from complications related to Alzheimer's Disease Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1999 at the age of 89. Mr. Kenan was born in Atlanta GA August 30, 1910. He attended Spring Street School, the Marist School and Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1932, then attended Harvard Law School and returned to Atlanta to graduate from Emory University Law School. He served in the US Navy from 1941-46 and was discharged as a Lieutenant Commander. During his term in the Navy, he served in England, France and Germany. He married the late former Anne Clay of Paris, KY in 1941 Mr. Kenan worked in NY in the investment business, returning to Atlanta to manage Olympia Investment Corp. founded by his grandfather, Frank Hawkins. He was vice-chairman and director of Flagler System, Inc, director of Kenan Transport Co. in NC, and trustee of Episcopal High School, Alexandria, VA and Atlanta Speech School. He served on the Board of Visitors, Emory University, advisory committee of W.R. Kenan Charitable Trust, and Vestry at All Saints' Episcopal Church. He served on the board of Sarah Graham Kenan Fdn., and was vice-president and director of Atlanta Rotary Club. He was a member of Piedmont Driving Club, Capital City Club, Nine O'Clocks, Metropolitan Club in New York, Bath and Tennis Club and Everglades Club in Palm Beach, the Society of the Cincinnati, and the Society of Colonial Wars. The Kenan family’s history can be traced to the University’s beginnings. Seven successive generations of Kenan family members have attended Carolina. Gen. James Kenan (1740-1810), a Revolutionary War hero and James G. Kenan’s great-great-great grandfather, was one of the first trustees of the University. Among the most recent Kenan family members to graduate from Carolina is James G. Kenan’s granddaughter Elizabeth “Boo” Kenan ’99. Surviving are 5 children, Anne Read Kenan, Brutus Clay Kenan, James G. Kenan, III, Sarah Kenan Kennedy and Clay Kenan Kirk; 9 grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.