Amos U. "Buck" Priester III
August 13, 1933 - July 12, 2012

Amos U. ("Buck") Priester, III, 78, died July 12, 2012 surrounded by his family. Buck, the oldest son of Rebekah Herring Priester and Amos U. Priester, Jr., was born on August 13, 1933 in La Grange, Georgia. An accomplished athlete and highly honored high school football player, Buck chose to follow in his father's footsteps and attend Clemson University, where his father previously earned All-American honors. While at Clemson, Buck married his high school sweetheart, Peggy Jo Cofield, on January 29, 1955. At Clemson, he was a success on and off the football field, starting at guard for legendary coach Frank Howard for three years, being named to the All-ACC Academic team and graduating Phi Beta Kappa in January 1956 with a B.S. in education. After graduation, Buck was drafted into the Army, where he coached his base football team to the Army National Championship in 1957. Upon his discharge from the Army in 1958, Buck moved his family back to La Grange where he resumed his career and love of Coaching at Troup County High School in La Grange, followed by very successful tenures at Anderson High School and Camden High School in South Carolina. In 1963, Buck made the difficult decision to leave his much beloved coaching profession to better provide for his family. Buck entered the hospitality business and served in high level management capacities with several national hotel chains. Several years later, he moved his family to Greensboro, NC and founded his own hotel management company, Executive Management, Inc., which owned, operated, built, and renovated hotels throughout the country. A tireless worker, Buck was very active in the North Carolina hospitality industry, serving an unprecedented three consecutive terms as the President of the North Carolina Hotel and Motel Association. Buck was subsequently inducted into the North Carolina Hospitality Hall of Fame in 1970. In 1994, he retired to Raleigh and enjoyed spending time with his family, the outdoors, traveling and watching sports.

Buck was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and businessman. Buck is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 57 years, Peg; his son, Amos U. Priester, IV and his wife, Lisa; son, Pete Priester, and his wife, Jill; his daughter, Jodi Carroll; his grandchildren, Lindsay Priester, Nikki Chapman, and her husband, Alex, Tom Priester, Becky Priester and Nicholas Priester; his brother, George Priester, and friend, Rick Alexander. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Willis Parker Priester, and his son-in-law, Tommy Carroll.

The Priester family would like to express sincere thanks to Dr. Dunlap, the staff at the Oaks at Mayview, and Hospice of Wake County for their care, love, support, and friendship.

Funeral services were on Monday, July 16 at Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh. A graveside service followed at Raleigh Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society , in memory of Tommy Carroll, or Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church.