John Gould Lientz '70
(Awarded 2010)

John Lientz is a steady guy. After graduating from Davidson, he did a stint in the Army before heading to NYU School of Law on a prestigious Root-Tilden Scholarship. Born and bred in Savannah, Georgia, he returned to his historic hometown to clerk with U.S. District Judge Alexander A. Lawrence, and join the law firm of Bouhon, Williams & Levy. A feather in the cap of that distinguished firm, he became partner and has hung his shingle there for nearly thirty-five years.

As a Davidson student, John was a member of Reach Out, ROTC, served on the Honor Council, and joined Pi Kappa Alpha-all while fulfilling his commitment to the history major that was the focus of his academic career.

John began to serve his alma mater early in his life as an alumnus, birthing the Savannah alumni chapter in 1978. Correspondence between the Georgia low country and Davidson was constant, as John sought dates, identified speakers, nailed down venues, and extended invitations. These were the Pleistocene days before e-mail-this took persistence. But the task suited John, and he continued to serve as president of the Savannah alumni chapter until 2005 - a twenty-seven year stint. Along the way, John added the Annual Fund to his Wildcat caps, with eleven years as class agent, co-chair, or chair of the Annual Fund for the Great Class of 1970.

In addition to furthering alumni relations, John has focused on family, career, and civic engagement. He and his wife, Barbie, raised two children and are now proud grandparents. As a member of the Georgia State Bar, he has served his profession locally and regionally, and has been a popular lecturer on various corporate and real-estate-related topics. In his community, John has served the American Red Cross, Hospice Savannah, Young Life, United Way, the Boy Scouts of America, and the YMCA-to name a few.

John, Davidson is proud of your personal and professional accomplishments, and grateful for your steadfast leadership in the Savannah alumni chapter and the Annual Fund. You have the distinction of being one of a handful of alumni volunteers to lead a chapter for such a span of years. For this remarkable example of leadership and service to Davidson College, the Davidson College Alumni Association honors you, John Gould Lientz, with the Alumni Service Award.