Junius Brutus Stroud III '51
(Year Awarded--1997)

This alumnus, Class of 1951, has loved Mathematics from his childhood days in Faison, North Carolina. Tutored by Professors Kimbrough, McGavock and Mebane, he earned Phi Beta Kappa at Davidson, where he was also elected to Scabbard & Blade and to the Honor Court.

After a tour of duty in the U. S. Army, he taught school and began work toward a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Virginia. In 1960, Dean of the Faculty Frontis Johnston called him home to Davidson, where he taught until his retirement in 1994.

His contributions to the Department of Mathematics have been exceptional. Architect of courses in Geometry, problem solving and the history of Mathematics, he has gained the respect of hundreds of Davidson students for his rigorous instruction in Calculus, Probability, and Linear Algebra. In 1985, he was named Richardson Professor of Mathematics, in recognition of his service as teacher, scholar and chair of the department. In 1987, the faculty voted him the Thomas Jefferson Award for excellence in teaching, writing and scholarship.

His service to the College outside the classroom has also been exemplary. He has been a fair-minded and conscientious member of virtually every important faculty committee, and for many years had the challenging assignment as the faculty representative to the NCAA and to the athletic conferences of which Davidson has been a member. In the words of a valued colleague, "He has helped Davidson steer a course through NCAA quagmires and multiple conference memberships, always with personal and institutional integrity."

Because of your outstanding classroom teaching across four decades; because of your quiet but effective service on behalf of the Davidson student athlete; because of your work as Annual Fund Class Chair and your participation in alumni chapter meetings and class reunions; because of our pride in the J. B. Stroud Scholarship established in your honor; and because you exemplify the values of loyalty, steadfastness and honesty, the Alumni Association proudly presents you, Junius Brutus Stroud III, the Alumni Service Award, on the occasion of the Class of 1951's Forty-fifth Reunion.