Accomplishments of Travis Porter '53
2001 Recipient of Distinguished Alumni Award

Compiled by Mark Whitson, '87
Treasurer, UNC NROTC Alumni Association

The Board of Directors of the UNC NROTC Alumni Association is pleased to share the accomplishments of Travis Porter '53, the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award given during the 11th Annual Reunion in Chapel Hill on Saturday October 6, 2001.

Born

• Lumberton, North Carolina, March 8, 1931

Family

• Wife, Jane
• Three sons: Gregory, Daryl and Christopher

Education

• AB in English, University of North Carolina, 1953.
• LLB with High Honors (first such degree ever awarded by UNC Law School, awarded by unanimous faculty vote -- since converted to J.D. with High Honors), 1960;
• Graduated first in class (first and only person to ever graduate first in class matriculating on the accelerated program, i.e., three-year curriculum in 27 months);
• Chief Justice Walter Clark Award;
• Law Review (author of two articles);
• Admitted to Bar, North Carolina, 1960

Listing

• Who's Who in American Law

Awards

• UNC Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Medal Recipient, 1993;
• Durham Chamber of Commerce Civic Honor Recipient, 1993;
• UNC Law School Distinguished Alumnus Award, 1995;
• Master Builder Award (received four such awards in a span of 20 years;
• Durham-Chapel Hill Home Builders Association Man of the Year Award, 1967;
• Recipient of North Carolina Housing Hall of Fame Award, 1996

State Office

• Member of the Board of Governors of the University of North
  Carolina (1987-1995), Chairman (1994-1995), Vice Chairman (1990-1994);
• Chairman, Personnel and Tenure Committee (1989-1990), Vice Chairman (1988-1989);
• Member, North Carolina Entrepreneurial Development Board (1993-1994);
• Member of the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1979-1987), Chairman (1983-1984);
• Member of the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina Endowment (1983-1987), Chairman (1983-1984);
• Member of the Board of Directors of the University of North Carolina Institutional Development Foundation, Inc. (1984), Vice Chairman (1982-1983), Secretary (1981-1982);
• Chairman, Durham Chamber of Commerce New Durham II Campaign (1993)

Academic

• Adjunct Professor of Business Law, Graduate School of
  Business, Duke University (1974-1981)

Military Duty

• Captain, U.S. Marine Corps;
• Active duty, 1953-1956 (Korean War)

Current Community Service

• Chairman, Durham Chamber of Commerce New Durham II Committee (1993);
• Member, Board of Directors, Research Triangle Institute
  (1993-present);
• Secretary/Treasurer, North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation for Infant Mortality (1990-present)

Past Community Service

• Past President, Durham Chamber of Commerce (1984-1985), Past Vice President and Past Treasurer, Past Member of Executive Committee and Past Member of Human Relations Committee;
• Co-drafter, Enabling Legislation for Creation of North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (1973) [Agency now has $3 billion in outstanding bonds];
• Originating Facilitator, Triangle Housing Trust (1988);
• Past Committee Member, Durham Progress Group;
• Past Member, Board of Trustees, Durham Academy;
• Past President, Durham Tarheel Club;
• Past President, Durham Sports Club;
• Past First Vice President, Durham Jaycees;
• Past Vice President, Durham Toastmasters Club;
• Legal Counsel and Steering Committee for Durham International Track, Inc., including: Pan-Africa/USA Track Meet, USA/USSR Track Meet and Lite Invitational Track Meet;
• Past Director, Durham Kiwanis Club;
• Past Director, Family Counseling Service;
• YMCA Colonel Award;
• Durham-Chapel Hill Home Builders Association Man of the Year Award;
• Regional Award Winner, Durham Toastmasters Club;
• Visiting Lecturer, Duke University Law School;
• Continuing Legal Lecturer, North Carolina Bar Association;
• YMCA Youth Basketball Coach ten years;
• YMCA Youth Baseball Coach two years;
• Campaign Director, March of Dimes

Church Involvement

• President, Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church of Durham, Inc.,
  1992-1993;
• Elder, Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church;
• Past Chairman, Board of Deacons;
• Past Chairman, Every Member Canvass;
• Sunday School Teacher

Back to UNC NROTC Alumni 2001 Reunion Page
See Will Stubbs' accomplishments