In recognition of his 34 years as the “Voice of the Tar Heels” and thanks to a fan’s anonymous lead gift, Woody Durham is being honored with a distinguished professorship in the Department of Communication Studies. Now, Woody’s friends and fans can pay tribute to the man who brings Carolina football and men’s basketball games to them on the radio – and now the Internet –with a gift to this endowed professorship. Supporters hope to raise at least $500,000 to create the Woody Durham Distinguished Professorship and qualify for state matching funds to further increase its value to Carolina.
Woody earned his bachelor’s degree in radio, television and motion pictures from Carolina’s College of Arts and Sciences in 1963. He began his broadcasting career at age 16 at WZKY in Albemarle, and served as sports director for WFMY-TV in Greensboro. In 1971, he became the “Voice of the Tar Heels.” Since 1981, Woody has worked with VilCom, Inc., of Chapel Hill, then Learfield Communications, Inc., of Jefferson City, Missouri, as the play-by-play announcer for Tar Heel Sports Marketing. He told the Chapel Hill News in December 2004 that “…as long as people want me here and I want to be here, I’ll keep doing it. It’s my calling.”
The Woody Durham Professorship will help the College of Arts and Sciences recruit, retain and support outstanding faculty in the Department of Communication Studies. Recognized nationally as a top tier program, it is the third largest department in the College with more than 800 undergraduate majors.
Funding for faculty is a top priority for the College of Arts and Sciences, where all Carolina students begin their studies and 70 percent of undergraduates receive their degrees. A professorship is one of the most prestigious and valued honors that can be bestowed on an outstanding faculty member at the University.
Your gift to the Woody Durham Distinguished Professorship will be:
- Tax deductible
- Counted toward the Carolina First Campaign goal of $1.8 billion
(Please note: This gift does not accumulate Ram’s Club points.)
For more information, please contact:
Emily Stevens
The Arts & Sciences Foundation
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
919/843-5285 or emily.stevens@unc.edu
Contribute by:
- Credit card gift.
Go to our secure giving site. - Check.
Payable to UNC-Chapel Hill (note “Woody Durham Professorship”), mail to:
Arts and Sciences Foundation
Attn. Emily Stevens
134 East Franklin Street
CB 6115
Chapel Hill, NC
27599-6115
- Stock.
Call 919/843-5285. - Multi-year pledge.
Call 919/843-5285.
Thank you for supporting the Woody Durham Distinguished Professorship.
