Charles Edward Dobbs '71
(Awarded 2011)

Every time alma mater has asked, Ed Dobbs has answered. His example - as a student, as a citizen, as an alumnus - has shown a person fully committed to living a life of leadership and service.

Entering Davidson from Winston-Salem, Ed was soon entrenched in the life of the college. His list of campus extracurriculars is diverse and impressive: freshman court, Phi Delta Theta, Red and Black Masquers, ROTC, throwing the javelin, Review Board.

Perhaps his most lasting legacy at Davidson was the centerpiece of his platform when he successfully campaigned for sophomore class president: founding a radio station. He persuaded C. Shaw Smith to give him an office at the Union and cajoled the college to set aside a small amount of money toward that end. With help from his fellow students and Grover Meetze, they established a coaxial underground cable system. His mother made the curtains for the first studio; his father built the desk for the turntables. Broadcast began May 22, 1970. As long as the weather was good and the electricity was on, students in their dormitories were treated to amateur disc jockeys spinning Top 40 and hard rock. WDAV was born, but its founder was not satisfied. Work began immediately to obtain a license from the FCC to broadcast as a regular educational FM radio station. The rest, as they say, is history.

One year later, Ed crossed the stage at Commencement, boisterously cheered on by the young Davidson community members who played on his Little League team, Ed proudly wearing the tie they had pooled their resources to purchase for him. Next stop was Vanderbilt Law School. Today Ed is a partner at Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs LLP. Along the way, he has served his professional community well, serving as president of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers, as board member of the Southeastern Bankruptcy Law, as chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association, and as chair of the Bankruptcy Section of the State Bar of Georgia. He served his community as well, planting trees in Atlanta and raising money for cancer treatment and research. And he found time to be a devoted husband to Elly and father to Peyten, Palmer, and Whitney.

Every time Davidson came calling, and call Davidson did, he said yes. Will you help with the Davidson Alumni Admission Program? Yes. Will you serve as a Class Agent for the Annual Fund? Yes. Will you host this chapter event or that dinner? Yes. Will you serve as regional chair of the Campaign for Davidson? Yes. Will you serve on the Board of Visitors? Yes. Will you chair the Board of Visitors and serve ex-officio on the Board of Trustees? Yes and yes. And there was substance behind each "yes." With Davidson's best interests at heart, he always has a sage word about what this institution can do better.

For serving Davidson with great acuity and faithfulness and music in your heart, and for always saying "yes" to alma mater, the Davidson College Alumni Association is proud to honor you, Charles Edward Dobbs, with the Alumni Service Award.