Cecil L. Clifton '68 
(Awarded 2008)

Cecil L. Clifton, Jr. arrived at Davidson in the fall of 1964 from Avondale, Georgia, with an interest in medicine, a passion for sports, and the record for the longest basket ever scored in the Georgia Tech Coliseum.

Cecil showed his skill and passion for sports as a Davidson basketball player during Davidson basketball’s “Glory Years,” but he did not limit his Davidson life solely to sports. Cecil also participated in the male chorus, was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega national fraternity, a member of the Scabbard and Blade, director of freshman camp, was a YMCA volunteer, a hall counselor, and a member of the Honor Court. He capped his outstanding academic career with induction into Omicron Delta Kappa and recognition on the Dean’s List.

From 1969 to 1971, Cecil served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. In 1972 he and his wife Jennie were married. The two went on to have two children: David Charles ’99 and Michael Scott ’02. Cecil earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence at the University of Georgia in 1975, leading him to general law practice with Alton M. Adams. This was just the beginning of his law practice, though, as he would later become President of Clifton, Sander & Smith, P.C. In 2003, Cecil was named Vice President of UHS-Pruitt Corporation.

As an alumnus, Cecil has heeded Davidson’s call, serving alma mater in numerous roles both big and small. He has volunteered for more than fifteen years as an Annual Fund class agent, provided leadership on Davidson’s previous fundraising campaigns, and been generous to Davidson through his advice, actions, and gifts. Cecil has provided tremendous leadership to Davidson through his work with the Davidson Athletic Foundation, as a volunteer on Davidson’s Regional Committee Campaign, and through his help organizing both the thirtieth and fortieth reunions for the Class of 1968.

Cecil’s life of leadership and service exemplifies the Davidson spirit. For his contagious enthusiasm for all things Davidson, for his willingness to eagerly respond to Davidson’s call, for demonstrating loyalty to Davidson through his words and deeds, for entrusting his two sons to Davidson, for offering honest advice and constructive criticism, for living a life of service, and for ensuring that Davidson is a better place because it claims him as an alumnus, the Alumni Association honors Cecil L. Clifton, Jr., Davidson Class of 1968, with the Alumni Service Award on April 26, 2008, on the occasion of his fortieth reunion.