John McKee Spratt, Jr.
(Year Awarded--1997)

Student years at Davidson provided early evidence that this member of the Class of 1964 would assume the responsibilities of leadership in his community and on behalf of his country. President of the Student Body, Phi Beta Kappa, and recipient of a prestigious Marshall Scholarship, he enjoyed the respect of students and faculty alike. A master's in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford and an L.L.B. from Yale only heightened the promise of his public service, even as he completed a tour in the U. S. Army and pointed toward the practice of law and a role in the businesses begun by his father.

In 1982, he entered the race for Congress, to represent the people of South Carolina's Fifth District. His victory marked the beginning of eight terms of service to nearly 600,000 South Carolinians and to the citizenry at large. That service has been characterized by dedicated attention to his constituents, by thoughtful positions on complex and controversial domestic issues, and by effective leadership in defining a responsible role for the United States in global affairs.

He is currently the ranking member of the Committee on the Budget. For ten years, he has been a valuable member of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, chairing the Subcommittee on Commerce, Consumer and Monetary Affairs in 1993-94. For fourteen years, he has played a key role within the Committee on National Security. During 1995-96, he was the ranking member on its Subcommittee on Military Research and Development, and he has chaired panels on the Strategic Defense Initiative and on Military Application of Nuclear Energy. He currently serves on the Subcommittee on Military Procurement.

Because you have been a leader in the U. S. House of Representatives and the Democratic Party; because you have faithfully and effectively grappled with the issues of trade, defense, environment, education, and the federal deficit; because you have tirelessly represented all of the people of your district, regardless of their station in life; and because you give dignity to public service and substance to politics, the Alumni Association of Davidson College is proud to present to you, John M. Spratt, Jr., on this day April 9, 1997, its Distinguished Alumnus Award.