Although The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is mourning the passing of its first chancellor, it is also celebrating his life and his role at the university. Dean Wallace Colvard, chancellor emeritus of UNC Charlotte, died June 28 at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte. He was 93. The funeral service was held July 2 at Covenant Presbyterian Church.A native of Grassy Creek in rural Ashe County in the North Carolina mountains, Colvard became UNC Charlotte’s first chancellor in April 1966, accepting the post from then UNC System President William Friday. He served in the post until his retirement in December 1978.
During Colvard’s 13-year tenure, enrollment at UNC Charlotte grew from about 1,700 students to more than 8,700. He was a key leader in the transformation of Charlotte College to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
To read an article about Colvard from the Fall/Winter 2003 issue of UNC Charlotte magazine, click here. The original news release from UNC Charlotte is also online.
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