A Lasting Legacy: Dot Grier’s Love for Converse

Dot Grier ’50 left Converse with her English degree in 1950, but in truth she never really left—her legacy lives on. Grier and her husband, Tom, created the Dorothy Ormond Grier ’50 and J. Thomas Grier Scholar Fund through Converse’s planned giving program, the Miss Gee Society, cementing their desire to benefit future generations of students through their benevolence.

Following Dot’s passing in 2015, their scholarship began to be awarded to an incoming freshman with a strong academic profile and a “record of excellent citizenship.” The Grier’s desire to honor such individuals reflects their own strength of character. Dot arrived in Spartanburg from Greenville, NC, and met Tom, then at Wofford College.

The Grier’s children view the scholarship as a gift from their mother’s heart

They stayed, investing themselves in every aspect of the community. Both served on Converse’s Board of Visitors and consistently supported the College. “She got an identity from Converse,” says Dot’s son, Riley, a retired investment banker in Charlotte whose wife, Alice Denman Grier ’78, also attended Converse.

The Grier’s children – Riley, his sister, Janice Corley, and their brother, Bob – view the scholarship as a gift from their mother’s heart. “It’s a family story for us,” Riley says. “We heard about Converse our whole lives, so you can imagine Converse is a special spot.”