A Very Special Chapel Hill Weekend
Posted on June 25, 1986Each Mother’s Day weekend Carolina alumni come back to Chapel Hill for reunions and Commencement. This year that weekend was special, in many ways.
James M. Johnston Trustees Announce Memorial Gift
At the annual alumni luncheon, UNC President Emeritus William C. Friday was joined by Chancellor Christopher Fordham in announcing the James M . Johnston Trustees’ gift of $500,000 to create the James M . Johnston Board Room on the first floor of the new Alumni Center.
Most of you know about the Morehead Scholars Program endowed by the late John Motley Morehead, once president of the General Alumni Association.
Not so well known, but equally significant, is the Johnston Scholars Program, whose benefactor was alumnus James M. Johnston, founder of the investment banking organization of Johnston, Lemon and Company in Washington, D.C.
More than 2,200 students have been Johnston Scholars, benefiting from more than $10 million provided for this program by the Johnston Trustees.
The Johnston donation to the Alumni Center provides that much-needed first major gift so essential to any successful campaign. Harvey B. Gram, Jr. , chairman of the Johnston Trust, and trustees Mrs. Webb C. Hayes, III and Barnum L. Colton, Jr. are providing a highly visible room in which to memorialize the life and career of James Johnston and the Scholars Program that bears his name. We are grateful for their vision and generosity.
Anonymous $3.5 million gift for Alumni Center
The building fund for the Alumni Center has also received $3.5 million from an anonymous donor, the largest single gift made by a living alumnus since John Motley Morehead established the Morehead Foundation. Making the announcement at the annual alumni luncheon, UNC President Emeritus William C. Friday said, “His challenge gift represents not only that abiding faith in the University, but his unwavering conviction for its great and splendid future.”
This loyal alumnus and friend of the University has challenged each of us to confirm his faith in the Alumni Association and our commitment to this much-needed project. As our Association approaches its sesquicentennial and the University its bicentennial, let us meet that challenge and confirm the faith and confidence of such an unselfish alumnus.
GAA Distinguished Service Medals
This year the GAA Board of Directors decided to give only two Distinguished Service Medals, to Bill and Ida Friday. As I read the citation (see page 29) at the annual alumni luncheon, I saw in many eyes tears of joy and sadness.
1966 Glee Club Reunion
Special Commencement entertainment was provided this year by the 1966 Carolina Glee Club. Dr. Joel Carter and alumnus Alvin Tyndall organized a reunion of 35 of the 40 men who toured Europe in 1966.
Special reunions like this one are exciting and we look forward to more.
Old Students Club
Students who attended the University 50 years ago or more are invited each year to be guests of the Association for lunch on Commencement Sunday. The Old Students Club meets through the generosity of the late James Lee Love ’88. This year Mr. Tom Ferguson’14 was the senior alumnus attending.
The class celebrating its 50th reunion is inducted and given a “challenge” by the preceding class. The Class of ’35 asked UNC President Emeritus Bill Friday to issue this year’s challenge.
Not surprisingly, Bill Friday challenged the Class of ’36 to continue to be concerned about the many public issues facing society today and to choose to make a contribution.
At Commencement exercises, John Kennedy, president of the Class of ’86, read these lines from Thomas Wolfe, Class of ’20.
“Sometimes when the spring time comes and the sifting moonlight falls (you will) think again of this night here and these old brown walls (you’ll think) of white old well and of Old South with its bells’ deep booming tone. You’ll think again of Chapel Hill and thinking, come back home. ”
Special Thanks
With this issue, Ann Clark is stepping down as managing editor of our alumni publications. For three years, with the superb assistance of associate editor Alice Joyce, Ann has steadily improved both the Carolina Alumni Review and the University Report. We are grateful for her effective hard work and will miss her.
Yours at Carolina,
Douglas S. Dibbert ’70
