Remembering Dean Colvard, 'great man of agricultural and rural life'
Colvard is shown in 2005, when he and his wife established a 4-H leadership endowment in the College. From 1953 to 1960, he served as dean of the College (then called the School of Agriculture).
Photo by Becky Kirkland
Dr. Dean W. Colvard, who died June 28 at the age of 93, is being remembered as the first chancellor of UNC-Charlotte and, before that, as the president of Mississippi State University. But at N.C. State University, the memory is still strong of Colvard as dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), which he served from 1953 to 1960. Born July 10, 1913, in Ashe County and raised on a mountain livestock farm, he became one of the most important leaders in higher education in the College, the state and the nation.
N.C. State Chancellor James Oblinger described Colvard as "a man of extraordinary vision and leadership. He left a strong legacy during his time at N.C. State, most noticeably as dean, but also as superintendent, professor of animal science and department head - and then later in his role as a university benefactor and friend."
Colvard was a special guest in 1999 at the dedication of the College's Butler Communication Services Building, where a room was named in his honor. On that day then Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. called Colvard "my dean and my hero, the great man of agricultural and rural life."
Colvard was a native of Grassy Creek, where he was a 4-H'er as a boy. He received his 1935 bachelor's degree in agriculture from Berea College, in Kentucky, and then he worked as an agriculture instructor at North Carolina's Brevard College, before becoming a graduate research assistant at the University of Missouri. There he earned his master's degree in animal physiology in 1938. He later earned his Ph.D. degree in livestock economics from Purdue University in 1950.
From 1938 to 1946, Colvard was superintendent of Mountain Research Farms of the N.C. Agricultural Research Stations. During that time he helped locate and supervise the building of research farms at Swannanoa, Waynesville and Laurel Springs, as well as the construction of Swannanoa 4-H Camp, the oldest 4-H camp in the state. In 1947, he joined the faculty at N.C. State, where he was in charge of dairy research and teaching. From 1948 to 1953 he was head of the Department of Animal Industry. He then became dean of the College.
As dean he helped develop the "agribusiness" concept, giving agriculture a broader definition, and he oversaw expansion of the research program in the College. He was instrumental in establishing the two-year Agricultural Institute at N.C. State, and he helped initiate and serve as coordinator for the College's agricultural research mission to Peru. The Nickels for Know-How program and the N.C. Agricultural Foundation Inc. had their beginnings during his tenure, as well.
In 1954, The Progressive Farmer named Colvard "Man of the Year" in service to North Carolina Agriculture. In 1960, he became president of Mississippi State University, where he was instrumental in integrating the university. He returned to North Carolina in 1966 to become chancellor of the new UNC-Charlotte, where he served until his retirement in 1978.
He was honored with the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award of the N.C. 4-H Development Fund in 1998.
In October 2005, Colvard, with his wife, Martha Lampkin Colvard, established the Dr. Dean and Mrs. Martha Colvard 4-H Leadership Endowment in the College. The endowment was established to provide resources for youth leadership programs to ensure that 21st-century 4-H youth will have opportunities to develop values-based leadership skills.
Colvard was a historian, as well, co-authoring (with Dr. William L. Carpenter) the book Knowledge Is Power: A History of the School of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University, 1877-1984. He also authored Mixed Emotions: As Racial Barriers Fell, A University President Remembers, a study of racial integration at Mississippi State and other Southern universities. He contributed several boxes of rare volumes and research notes to be housed in the Butler building's conference room named in his honor. Among these were two histories of The Progressive Farmer.
- Terri Leith
N.C. State Chancellor James Oblinger described Colvard as "a man of extraordinary vision and leadership. He left a strong legacy during his time at N.C. State, most noticeably as dean, but also as superintendent, professor of animal science and department head - and then later in his role as a university benefactor and friend."
Colvard was a special guest in 1999 at the dedication of the College's Butler Communication Services Building, where a room was named in his honor. On that day then Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. called Colvard "my dean and my hero, the great man of agricultural and rural life."
During his tenure, Colvard (center) worked with L.Y. Ballentine (left), then state agriculture commissioner, and Dr. J. N. Sasser, N.C. State nematode scientist, on a project supported by Nickels For Know-How.
Photo Courtesy CALS Communication Sevices
Photo Courtesy CALS Communication Sevices
From 1938 to 1946, Colvard was superintendent of Mountain Research Farms of the N.C. Agricultural Research Stations. During that time he helped locate and supervise the building of research farms at Swannanoa, Waynesville and Laurel Springs, as well as the construction of Swannanoa 4-H Camp, the oldest 4-H camp in the state. In 1947, he joined the faculty at N.C. State, where he was in charge of dairy research and teaching. From 1948 to 1953 he was head of the Department of Animal Industry. He then became dean of the College.
As dean he helped develop the "agribusiness" concept, giving agriculture a broader definition, and he oversaw expansion of the research program in the College. He was instrumental in establishing the two-year Agricultural Institute at N.C. State, and he helped initiate and serve as coordinator for the College's agricultural research mission to Peru. The Nickels for Know-How program and the N.C. Agricultural Foundation Inc. had their beginnings during his tenure, as well.
In 1954, The Progressive Farmer named Colvard "Man of the Year" in service to North Carolina Agriculture. In 1960, he became president of Mississippi State University, where he was instrumental in integrating the university. He returned to North Carolina in 1966 to become chancellor of the new UNC-Charlotte, where he served until his retirement in 1978.
He was honored with the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award of the N.C. 4-H Development Fund in 1998.
In October 2005, Colvard, with his wife, Martha Lampkin Colvard, established the Dr. Dean and Mrs. Martha Colvard 4-H Leadership Endowment in the College. The endowment was established to provide resources for youth leadership programs to ensure that 21st-century 4-H youth will have opportunities to develop values-based leadership skills.
Colvard was a historian, as well, co-authoring (with Dr. William L. Carpenter) the book Knowledge Is Power: A History of the School of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University, 1877-1984. He also authored Mixed Emotions: As Racial Barriers Fell, A University President Remembers, a study of racial integration at Mississippi State and other Southern universities. He contributed several boxes of rare volumes and research notes to be housed in the Butler building's conference room named in his honor. Among these were two histories of The Progressive Farmer.
- Terri Leith