ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, January 28, 1997              TAG: 9701280045
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-3  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE
                                             TYPE: NEWS OBIT 

BELK STORES' PRESIDENT DIES

Thomas Milburn Belk, president of Belk Stores Services Inc., died late Saturday at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte. He was 71.

Belk, who was recuperating from gall bladder surgery, was baby-sitting his grandchildren at his home when he had a sudden attack.

Belk Stores spokesman Darrell Williams said he did not know the cause of death.

Belk was the youngest child of William Henry Belk, founder of Belk department stores. He served many years as president of the Charlotte-based corporation and the other Belk store corporations that operate department stores throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states, including former Leggett stores in Western Virginia. Belk is the largest privately owned department store group in the nation, with 260 stores and about $2 billion in annual sales.

- Associated Press

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