Businessman, Musician William Humphries Dies
Times Picayune 04-20-1996

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William Darlington Humphries, founder of Walnut Street Capital, a private
investment and venture capital fund, died Thursday of pulmonary fibrosis at
Touro Infirmary. He was 69.

Mr. Humphries was born in Allendale, S.C., and lived in New Orleans for more
than 40 years.

He graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in foreign affairs
and was an Army veteran.

After moving to New Orleans, Mr. Humphries worked for WDSU Radio and
Television in sales and for its owners, the Edgar Stern family. He was
president of the Royal Street Investment Corp. until 1982, when he formed
Walnut Street Capital.

He also was a former president and chairman of GTS, an oil service company
that specialized in collecting and marketing worldwide geological information.

Mr. Humphries was a professional musician and played the banjo with the
Crawford-Ferguson Night Owls on the riverboat President. He also recorded
several albums with the group and played on His Majesty's Bandwagon in the Rex
parade.

He was a member of the New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club and a former board member
of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Pitts Humphries; two sons, William D.F.
Humphries of New Orleans and New York City and John E.F. Humphries; a
daughter, Jacqueline Humphries of New York City; two stepsons, John F.B. and
Robert A. Wilkinson; a stepdaughter, Lisa A. Wilkinson; a sister, Patty
Humphries of Washington, D.C.; a grandchild; and two stepgrandchildren.

A funeral will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, 1100
Broadway. Visitation will begin at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be in Swallow-
Savannah Cemetery in Allendale. Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Funeral Home is in
charge of arrangements.