Lawrence to be honored with endowed professorship

Long-time School of Government professor David Lawrence has recently announced his plans to retire at year's end. A committee has been formed to appropriately honor Lawrence with an endowed professorship established in his name at the School.

The amount needed to endow such a professorship is $500,000. This committee, chaired by Charlotte City Attorney DeWitt (Mac) McCarley, hopes to have $333,000 pledged (with the state matching the remaining $167,000) by the end of the year.

“This campaign will both honor David for the great work he has done over the years at the School of Government and provide a way to continue the kind of support David and the Institute have provided to all of us in local government,” said McCarley.

Lawrence has been a fixture at the School of Government since 1968. He has written and counseled on local government revenues, budgeting and fiscal control, capital finance, municipal incorporation, local government property transactions, property interests in city streets, public records, open meetings, governing board procedures and economic development. He is regarded as the annexation expert in the state; in fact, he literally wrote the book on the subject.

“The School has had many great faculty members throughout its history, but none have been greater than David,” said School of Government Dean Michael Smith. “The breadth and depth of his knowledge about local government law is remarkable. He is an excellent teacher who has continuously introduced innovations into the classroom, and he is a clear, graceful and prolific writer. David also is an excellent advisor, which is why so many local officials have memorized his telephone number and email address.  He also has been an excellent mentor and a great colleague. David has been a model faculty member in every way.”

“No other person has had the broad and profound impact on North Carolina local government that David has,” added McCarley. “In his work on public records, open meetings, capital project financing and general law, David has touched just about every local government manager, clerk and attorney in the state. We count on David, and he has always been there for us.”

The fundraising committee is asking for individuals and associations to pledge toward the professorship endeavor. This campaign began on January 1 and will conclude in December, when Lawrence retires. McCarley hopes to have “about 225 managers, attorneys, clerks, finance and budget directors, and others who have benefitted from David's work” to make a personal gift or pledge of $1,000.

“We can spread the pledge over three years ($333 per year for three years) to make it affordable.  This is a great way to show David how much we appreciate his contribution to us and local government in North Carolina, and to build the capacity of the School of Government to continue providing that level of service in the future,” said McCarley.

If you are interested in pledging to the David M. Lawrence Distinguished Professorship, please contact Ann Simpson at the School of Government at 919-843-2799. Gifts can be sent to the School of Government, UNC-Chapel Hill, CB#3330 Knapp-Sanders Building, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3330. Click here for the campaign's brochure.

“A professorship is the perfect way to honor David,” said Smith. “He is the quintessential practical scholar — an excellent teacher, a great writer and an insightful advisor. He is exactly what we want in every professor, and so it makes sense to honor him by creating a professorship that will carry his name. The professorship will support another faculty member at the School, which is important, and it also will promote the high standards that David has established for all of us.”