Orville Dillard Coward

Orville Dillard Coward, Sr. of Sylva, North Carolina, died at age 90 on July 8, 2016. He had a long decline, but remained happy and active until the end. Orville was born in Sylva on October 30, 1925, to Dillard and Flodia Hooper Coward. He graduated from Sylva High School in 1942 and enrolled in Mars Hill College. He worked in the U.S. Naval shipyard in Norfolk and joined the Navy in 1943. He was in pilot training when he contracted rheumatic fever and spent months in a naval hospital. Upon being honorably discharged, he returned to Sylva and enrolled in Western Carolina, and briefly served as the football coach of Sylva High School, because more qualified coaches were overseas. He then attended the undergraduate and law schools at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Upon passing the Bar Exam in 1951, Orville returned to Sylva to practice law. He was soon joined by his brother Kent Coward, and they founded the law firm now known as Coward, Hicks and Siler, with offices in Sylva, Franklin and Cashiers. Orville was followed in the profession of law not only by his brother, but by his son, four nieces and nephews, his daughter-in-law, his son-in-law and two grandchildren. Over the years he was honored to have several excellent lawyers as partners. Orville was a true small town general practitioner. He handled criminal cases, including several murder cases, closings, bankruptcies, corporate work, land lawsuits, workers compensation cases, personal injury and taxation. He loved practicing law and helping younger lawyers. In 2010 he was inducted into the North Carolina General Practice Hall of Fame. Orville was a lifelong and active member of the First Baptist Church of Sylva, where he served as a deacon and in other capacities. He served the Jackson County community in many ways, from supporting youth sports to industrial recruitment. He greatly enjoyed the Jaycees and was a member of the Sylva Rotary Club for sixty-plus years, receiving distinguished service awards from both. Orville loved UNC-Chapel Hill and Western Carolina University, and attended countless football and basketball games. Over time, Orville became ever more convinced of the importance of education, particularly the education of the people of Western North Carolina. He believed that through education, our people's lives could be happier and more productive and that our mountain communities' economies could survive and thrive. Orville served several terms as a member of the Western Carolina University Board of Trustees, and on the UNC Board of Governors. Orville helped accomplish several things through community activism. In the 1970's, working with Governor Jim Holshouser and Chancellor Cotton Robinson, funds were obtained for the widening and relocation of N.C. Highway 107 from Sylva to Cullowhee and Western Carolina University, making possible the growth of the university that continues to this day. In the 1980's, after the announced closure by Southern Railway of its Dillsboro to Murphy Branch, working with Governor Jim Martin and long-time friend and client Malcolm MacNeill, the railroad was preserved as the Great Smoky Mountains Railway, and remains in operation today. In the 1990's, working with the late State Representative Larry Justus and Chancellor John Bardo, funds were obtained for the construction of the Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University, which has been important in the evolution and growth of the university. Orville and Kent were proud "Mountain Republicans," the Party of Lincoln, with both sides of their family tracing Republican roots to the 1860's. Orville and Kent served as chair of the 11th District, as Orville said, "more times than reasonable." He was a delegate from Western North Carolina to the GOP national conventions of 1956, 1960, 1976 and 1996. He believed that there should be a two party system in North Carolina and worked hard for it. He also believed in cooperating with the other side. He was instrumental in the elections of Billy Hendon, Charles Taylor, Mark Meadows, Jim Holshouser, Jim Martin, Jim Gardner and Pat McCrory, and worked very hard for his friend Richard Vinroot, as well as countless others. In 1993 he was elected to the N.C. GOP Hall of Fame. Orville hated political extremism on both sides. He believed that political interests could be advanced by the principles of honesty, integrity, compassion, compromise and moderation. In the early 1960's, Orville and Kent led the effort to desegregate the public schools in Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties, prior to the time it was required by law. In 2015, Orville wrote these words: "The United States of America is the greatest nation on Earth; its destiny is to be an example, a servant and a leader to the other peoples of the Earth; its greatness springs from and it should continue to adhere to its ancient principles of liberty, freedom, equality and concern by the powerful and wealthy for the weak and the poor; in order to survive it must always keep the rule of law and justice with mercy paramount; its best days are not past, but are ahead." Orville was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Kent and sister, Mary Jane Dillard, and his first wife, Nancy Potts Coward. He is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy Reese Coward; son, Orville D. Coward, Jr. and wife, Carolyn Coward of Webster and Asheville; daughter, Betsy C. Phillips and husband Herb Phillips, of Asheville; step daughter, Stacy Lake of Sylva; step daughter, Kym Martin and husband, Justice Mark Martin of Raleigh; grandchildren, Bert Phillips, Elizabeth Phillips, Elliott Coward, Sara Ferguson, and numerous step-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Betty Coward Stillwell and husband, E.P. Stillwell, Jr. of Six Mile, S.C.; nephews Roger L. Dillard, Jr. and wife, Connie, James Kent Coward, Jr. and wife, Renee, Judge Bill Coward and wife, Kim, and niece, Elizabeth Rand; and many other nieces, nephews, and cousins. There will be a memorial service at 2:00 P.M., Monday, July 11 at the First Baptist Church, Sylva, Reverend Jeff Mathis officiating. The family will receive friends at the church immediately preceding the service, beginning at 12:00 noon. Memorials may be made to a church or charity of one's choice. . .