Each year Davidson College recognizes a faculty member who by personal influence, teaching, writing, and scholarship promotes the high ideals of Thomas Jefferson. The overriding outstanding quality is described as that of having given of self "generously and well beyond the call of duty." Today we have the opportunity to honor an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to this College and to this community. With determination and diligence, humility and concern, he sets daily an example of all that we -- faculty, students, and staff -- espouse to be. "Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others." These words, of course, come from the New Testament; yet, they resonate well with those of other faiths and religious dispositions. Today, we recognize one who lives them daily.

I wish I had ample time to highlight all that he does as a teacher, scholar, committee leader and member, department chair, church leader and worker. And yet, we witness even so much more: an individual with an unshakable dedication to family and to friends.

After a most successful career at another North Carolina institution of higher learning, he, with his remarkable wife, arrived here in 1990, really not that long ago. Yet, for the many of us close to him, we would have trouble imagining Davidson College without him.

As a teacher he is extremely organized, clear, fair, and caring. He patiently works with students in the office, one which has an ever-open door. Also, students with questions or concerns are encouraged to call the home until 11 p.m.; yet, I suspect he would take the calls even after that deadline. In his effort to be absolutely as fair as possible, I have seen him contemplate with an incredible seriousness whether a student should have a C-plus or a B-minus. To him, the importance of awarding the correct and fair grade to the student merited such effort.

Really that effort should come as no surprise to those who know him, for concern and fairness are two virtues that he would never compromise. Jefferson said in his first inaugural address that an important principle for him in his presidency would be that of "equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political." I know that such a principle is followed, day by day, by this faculty member. I am not sure I have ever met one who is less judgmental of others. Rather, he, and those in his family, have always extended concern, fairness, and courtesy to all whom they encounter.

He has a distinguished record of scholarship with academic articles in leading journals like the American Economic Review, the Southern Economic Journal, and the Journal of International Economics. With a colleague and close friend, Alfred J. Field, Jr., he has authored a leading text on international economics that is heading to a fifth edition, with non-English versions, including Chinese. He has been honored with his election as a vice-president of the Southern Economic Association and by his selection as an associate editor of the Southern Economics Journal. Yet, even when in the more research setting of a university, he was known first as a dedicated teacher both to graduate students and to undergraduates, earning the deep respect, I know, of a former graduate student here today, as well as a major award for the inspirational teaching of undergraduates. I am pleased that he now is with us at Davidson and that we today are recognizing him.

I am not sure where to start with his service to this College. The faculty and the administration constantly look to him when an important task needs to be done, and to be done correctly and fairly. He has been elected to and chaired both the Faculty Tenure Committee and the Advisory Council on Finance. Add to those assignments his extraordinary service to the Dean Rusk International Studies Program and its advisory committee, prior service on the Facilities Planning Committee, and the Batten Selection Committee, among others.

He has been a Associated with this latter capacity is his unfailing dedication to our efforts to promote a more international campus and student body. No one has provided stronger support to Dr. Thomas and to our Davidson-in-India program; he has made several trips to India to support our students, to lecture, and to organize subsequent programs. He, with his wonderful wife, directed our semester program in India in 2000. During this three-month period, those students, very far from home and the support of their own families and friends, had an extraordinary experience, learning so much about India, its history, contemporary society, and culture, while having the care and support of this couple who treated the group of students as they would their own children during this trip.

Those in the entire southeast who have a taste for good "barbershop quartet" music have been entertained by him, along with some different trios of friends. Whether to throngs, as one member is apt to envision, or to smaller groups of seniors, he clearly relishes brightening the moment of those listening. At the Davidson College Presbyterian Church, his dedicated work with Campus Ministry and with the Chancel Choir has been so effective and appreciated.

I hope I have conveyed with some adequacy the exemplary record of this fine individual. But, please look beyond the record to the attitude and the faith of this person. Jefferson also said at his first inaugural: "I shall find resources of wisdom, of virtue, and of zeal on which to rely under all difficulties." Who among us today has been better able to fulfill daily such a challenge? Instinctively, whether in time of profound sadness or in time of joy, he responds with steadiness, effectiveness, concern, and love.