BOT member, community and business leader Dudley dies

by Ann Marie Deer Owens

Guilford Dudley Jr., a Vanderbilt graduate and life trustee whose business and philanthropic leadership made lasting contributions to the Nashville community and beyond, died June 13. The former U.S. ambassador to Denmark and retired chairman of Life and Casualty Insurance Co. died in his sleep at Northumberland, his home in Nashville. He was 94.

Dudley was the son of Guilford Dudley Sr., one of the founders of Life and Casualty Insurance, and Anne Dallas Dudley, the first president of the Nashville Suffragette League. He was born in Nashville and earned his B.A. from Vanderbilt in 1929. He also did graduate work at Peabody College. While at Vanderbilt, Dudley played varsity football and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. In 1931, Dudley became an insurance agent for L&C, and later served in the U.S. Naval Air Corps during World War II. Dudley was honored with a Presidential Citation and attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander during his tour of duty.

Dudley rejoined L&C in 1945 and was named to the company's board of directors a year later. He worked his way up to the presidency of L&C in 1952. He also served as ahead of WLAC Radio and WLAC-TV, both owned at the time by L&C. One of his most visible accomplishments was the building of the "L&C Tower," a prominent fixture in the Nashville skyline. For many years, it was the tallest commercial building in the Southeast. In 1965, he wrote the book The Skyline Is a Promise. Dudley remained president of L&C until 1969, when then-President Nixon tapped him to be ambassador to Denmark. King Frederick IX later honored Dudley with The Grand Cross of Dennebrog, the highest diplomatic award available, for his excellent services to Denmark.

Dudley first joined the Vanderbilt Board of Trust in 1962 and was named a life trustee in 1977. "Guilford Dudley was part of Vanderbilt for nearly a century," said Chancellor Gordon Gee. "He was a distinguished alumnus and a wise trustee whose legacy at the University, and in the community, will live on for many years."

Dudley also served as vice chairman of Ingram Corp. and senior chairman of its insurance subsidiary, Ingram International Ltd. Dudley also was a consultant to American General Corp. of Houston, which acquired L&C in 1967. A past president of the Life Insurance Conference, Dudley served on numerous boards, including those of Third National Bank, Financial Securities Advisers Inc., American Progressive Corp. and the Ensworth School.

Dudley was influential in Tennessee Republican politics and also a prominent Nashville socialite who devoted much time to philanthropic causes, including the annual Iroquois Steeplechase benefiting Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. He won the 1963 race with his horse Navy Fighter.