Dean Wallace Colvard, of the Cypress in Charlotte, died June 28, 2007 in Charlottte at the age of ninety-three. He was the son of Wiley and Mary Shepherd Colvard, and the grandson of John Calvin and Martha Ludema Hash Shepherd.
Dean was born July 10, 1913, at home on an Ashe County farm to Wiley Pinckney and Mary Shepherd Colvard. He graduated from Berea College where he met his wife, Martha. Drawn early to education, he taught at Brevard College, and then earned a masters degree from the University of Missouri, and a Ph.D. from Purdue University before joining the faculty of North Carolina State University, where he later became Dean of the School of Agriculture. His mission there was to bring new science and modern methods to every North Carolina farm, and the US State Department tapped him to help Peru to meet similar goals.
He was president of Mississippi State University from 1960-1966, sending its basketball team to play integrated teams in the national championships for the first time and integrating the university so quietly that few noticed. The State of North Carolina called him to organize the University of North Carolina's new branch in Charlotte in 1967, where he became its first chancellor, and he considered building the university the highlight of his professional career. He was also instrumental in the development of the North Carolina School of Science and Math.
Dr. Colvard served on the Board of the 4-H Club Foundation, the Richmond Board of the Federal Reserve Bank, the Southern Growth Policies Board, as an elder of Covenant Presbyterian Church and as Managing Director of Discovery Place in Charlotte.
He is survived by his wife, Martha; his sister, Carol Noronowicz; three children, Carol Cason, Lynda Opdyke, and Dean Wallace, Jr.; four grandchildren, Jill Opdyke, Laura Gutknecht, David Cason and Alexander Cason; and two great-grandchildren, Dean and Graham Gutknecht.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Colvard Merit Scholarship Fund, Office of Development, UNCC, Charlotte NC 28233; to Berea College, for providing educational opportunities for him and his family at Berea College, CPO 2216, Berea KY 40404, Attention Dorothy Anglin; the 4-H Development Fund, Box 7645, Raleigh NC 27695; Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1000 East Morehead St., Charlotte NC 28204; or the charity of the donor's choice.
Services will be held at 3 p.m., Monday, July 2, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, with visitation to follow in the church hall.
Harry and Bryant Company is serving the family of Mr. Colvard.
Also see the following articles:
The Charlotte Observer - Colvard, UNCC leader, 93: An 'uncommon devotion' to N.C. by April Bethea
The Clarion-Ledger - Ex-MSU president Colvard dies at 93 from The Associated Press
