William Henry Todd, Jr. '63
(Year Awarded--2003)

Hal Todd

William Henry "Hal" Todd came to Davidson in the fall of 1959 beginning a life of over forty years of service to Davidson College. While at Davidson he served on the publications board, the Student Service Corps and was named to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. His service began in earnest after graduating from Davidson in 1963 with an English degree. Hal Todd chose to make Davidson College a priority in his life, but never to the exclusion of his community or church. After receiving his divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond in 1968, he served for twenty years as ministers in churches in North Carolina, Mississippi and Georgia. In each church he successfully created new programs and increased budgets for those churches, leaving them much improved in their ability to fulfill their mission of supporting their communities. He was awarded an honorary degree from Presbyterian College in 1990 and served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Union Theological Seminary. His leadership at Union led him to the American University in Cairo, Egypt, where he spent one year organizing and leading their most recent capital campaign.

Hal's commitments to Davidson are as strong as the church leadership he has demonstrated over his career. Shortly after graduation, he began serving as the Class Secretary for the Class of 1963 and continues that service forty years later. He has earned the distinction as Davidson's longest serving class secretary, contacting classmates every few months to report on life's events, both big and small. He was instrumental in the committee that established an endowed fund in historical studies to honor classmate Ken Kelly. This fund has grown in support and has supported history students for over seventeen years. He has participated as an Annual Fund Class Agent, and several times as reunion committee member. He has been steadfast in demonstrating commitment to his class and support of the college. His contagious loyalty has extended to his family as he has entrusted Davidson with the education of both of his sons, Christopher '90 and David '92.

Because of your commitment to serve and lead Presbyterian institutions; because of your loyalty to the class of 1963; because of your service to alma mater; the Davidson College Alumni Association honors you, William Henry Todd, Junior with this Alumni Service Award on the occasion of the 40th Reunion of the Class of 1963.