King Mawhinney '71
(Awarded 2011)

Few individuals can carry the first name King. King Mawhinney can. A leader in his industry and a man dedicated to serving Davidson College as well as individuals in need, King defines what it means to live a life of leadership and service.

Upon graduating Davidson in 1971, King spent five years in the Army as a Medical Service Corps officer before embarking on a career in the insurance and financial services industry. While working, King earned a Master of Social Service and Human Relations degree from Pacific Lutheran University and Master of Education from the University of Texas at Austin. Along the way, King managed to achieve 11 insurance/financial certifications and designations. King retired as a Vice President from USAA Life Insurance Company in 2002. In 2004, King received a national education award from LOMA, a life and health insurance industry organization, for his many contributions, which included creating globally recognized education programs for the industry.

Although living in San Antonio, King remained faithfully connected to Davidson, serving as the San Antonio chapter president and a volunteer for the Houston area during the Campaign for Davidson. King provided early support for Davidson's women's volleyball program, has lent his support to several endowed book funds and the renovation of the Grey Union into the Sloan Music Center, and along with his father endowed the Mawhinney Davidson Generations Family Scholarship. King has served as Annual Fund Class Chair for the Class of 1971 and is a member of the Class of 1971 40th Reunion Committee. A former Davidson wrestler, King led the charge to honor Coach Dave Fagg '58 by chairing the Ellington-Fagg Scholarship Steering Committee, a volunteer-driven effort that raised $1,000,000 in support of Davidson's wrestling program and The Davidson Trust.

In San Antonio, King served for 10 years as an active volunteer for Boysville, Inc. of Texas, a home for children who cannot remain in their home environment, serving as president of the board and now as trustee. King has always given his time to numerous efforts serving children. In 2009, King traveled to Nigeria to serve at-risk populations there by helping distribute shoes and clothes, offering health clinics, and hosting basketball tournaments. Inspired to meet the profound needs of Nigeria's children, King helped Andrew Lovedale of the Class of 2008 launch the Access 2 Success Foundation, which supports underprivileged youth through various athletic, educational, and spiritual programs to help them develop the skills and traits necessary to reach their goals and grow as individuals of sound character and reputation. Regarding King's role in serving his efforts, Lovedale offered "words are not enough to describe what [he] has done. He has put us on his shoulders."

King, in every way, you have lived up to your name as "a person... regarded as the finest or most important in [his] sphere or group." Your stated obligation to recognize your blessings and pay them forward has benefited Davidson, our local and national communities, and now another continent. For your unwavering support for all that Davidson calls you to do, and for having shoulders broad enough to carry so many, the Davidson College Alumni Association is proud to honor you with this Alumni Service Award.