David Stedman
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William David Stedman passed away on December 23, 2020. He was born August 5, 1921 in Asheboro, N.C., and was educated in the Asheboro City Schools where he was Valedictorian of his graduating class and proud to be a catcher on the baseball team.
Stedman continued his education at Duke University where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, graduating with Honors in Economics. At Harvard University he received a graduate degree in Industrial Administration and many years later earned a Master's degree in Astronomy at Georgetown University. He was the recipient of two honorary doctorates. In 1943 he married Sarah Elizabeth White from Statesville, N.C.
Stedman was CEO of Stedman Corporation, a textile and apparel manufacturing firm, from 1960-1986, and concurrently CEO of Stedman Mills Corporation, a manufacturer of ladies hosiery. Duke University honored him as the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1989, and he also received the Excellence in Management Award by Industry Week Magazine. He was Chairman of the International Secretariat of the Knitting Industries, representing 20 nations. He served as Chairman of the Board of the United States Apparel Council, the National Knitwear Manufacturers Association and the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry, presently known as the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce.
Throughout his life he was consumed by the great mysteries of the universe, all the way from the intricate construction of ant hills, to the beauty of the butterflies and birds, to the awesome distant galaxies rushing away from each other at incredible speeds. He was a member of the American Astronomical Society and was co-author of a research paper, Magnitudes of 418 Dwarf M Stars, published in the Astronomical Journal. He taught Astronomy for a brief period at UNCG.
Stedman was the organizer and chairman of the Conference of National Association Chief Executive Officers, and of Foundation America. Impassioned and inspired by the genius of America's founding fathers, he co-edited Our Ageless Constitution, (Amazon 5-star book), originally published in 1987; also Rediscovering the Ideas of Liberty in 1992. In 2009 he authored The Destruction of The Great American Dream.
David Stedman has been listed in World Who's Who in Commerce and Industry, received the Distinguished Citizen Award from the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry, and was inducted into the North Carolina Business Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Board of the National Center for Constitutional Studies and helped organize The National Center for America's Founding Documents, and was a member of that Board, and also a member of the Board of Advisors of the Center for Judicial Studies.
Scouting dominated his teen years. He was quick to cite the impact scouting had on his inner development. An Eagle Scout, at age 16 he attended both the National Jamboree in Washington (50,000 boys) and the International Jamboree in Holland (25,000). Many years later he was a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award for leadership.
Devoted to the development of the North Carolina Zoological Park, Stedman was a central figure in the final determination of the location of the zoo. In terms of land mass, the zoo is now the largest in the world. In the early development of the zoo, David Stedman negotiated the purchase of the first 1,000 acres of land at $100 an acre.
In recent years, both David Stedman and Sarah Stedman have been honored by the North Carolina Bankers Association's award for Outstanding Public Service.
Over a period of 40 years Stedman was very active in the life of the First United Methodist Church in Asheboro. As a fourth-generation member he has served in numerous capacities.
David Stedman had a keen interest in the American founding philosophy and principles of a free society. He often referred to these and to the spirit that emanated from them as the "Heart and Soul of America." He pushed hard for a new way of thinking about and teaching U.S. History by approaching it through a focus on its philosophy and principles. He was actively engaged in promoting nationally a high school semester history course, designed along these lines, as a means of preparing young citizens and new voters for their civic responsibilities. He was one of the central figures in the enactment of a North Carolina law in 2011 which required the teaching of a semester course in this philosophy and these principles in the high school years. Known as the Founding Principles Act, a passing grade was required for graduation. A similar law was later passed by the South Carolina legislature.
His family and close friends knew him as an eternal optimist and one who recognized the sanctity of life. Both jovial and serious, he was a wonderful man with dogged determination to achieve a variety of goals. He had deep gratitude for the opportunities life brought to all of us, and for the experiences both "good and bad," through which we might all learn and grow. Giving up on a goal was never an option for him. He often said, "When the going gets tough the tough get going," and he lived into that wisdom himself. He had a soft caring heart for people, always acknowledging the good in others. Known as a compassionate encourager, he trusted in the possibilities for everyone to participate in the Blessings of Life. He loved God and had great faith in Him.
David and Sarah Stedman were married for 73 beautiful years, spending their last years as residents of the Arbor Acres Retirement Community in Winston-Salem. Surviving him are two daughters: Nancy Jane Calloway and husband Tom, and Anne Louise Stedman; four grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
A family graveside service is planned at 2 pm Saturday, January 2, 2021. Friends are invited to light a candle in their homes at that time and join spiritually for a few short moments to honor David's life here and hereafter.
Memorials may be made to the organization of the donor's choice.
Pugh Funeral Home in Asheboro is serving the Stedman family. Please share remembrances and condolences at www.pughfuneralhome.com