Thursday, April 15, 2010

John Jay Burney Jr. and J. Marshall Crews, leaders who shaped and guided Wilmington College and UNCW, recently passed away, but their legacies of dedication and service will long be remembered on campus.

"The UNCW community mourns the loss of John Burney and Marshall Crews," said Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo. "They deeply and profoundly cared about our university and the Cape Fear community, and they diligently worked throughout their lives to make UNCW and the region we serve as strong and successful as possible. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to their families and friends. John and Marshall will be sorely missed."

Burney, a Wilmington native, was 85 when he died on April 10. He was a decorated veteran of World War II, attorney, state senator, civic leader and UNCW advocate. As a member of the N.C. General Assembly from 1967 to 1972, he introduced the bill that authorized Wilmington College to become part of the University of North Carolina in 1969. He was involved in numerous civic and social organizations, including the UNCW Board of Trustees, serving as chair from 1982 to 1984. His legislative papers are included in Randall Library's collection.

The UNCW Alumni Association presented Burney with its Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award in 1995. Burney Center, UNCW's state-of-the-art campus meeting facility, is named in his honor.

"John was a visionary who understood our institution's tremendous potential," DePaolo said. "He was an advocate and friend during a pivotal time in the university's history, and we're very grateful to him for his leadership and support."

Generations of alumni, faculty and staff respect and admire Crews, professor emeritus of mathematics. He was 90 when he died on April 13.

"One of the original faculty members of Wilmington College, Marshall served countless UNCW students until his retirement in 1981, and he remained a tremendous friend of the university throughout his life," the chancellor said. "During his academic career, he was a mathematics professor, registrar, dean of students, academic dean and director of admissions. He also wrote the book 'From These Beginnings,' the definitive history of Wilmington College. He was truly an extraordinary educator and individual."

In addition to his lengthy service as an educator and administrator, Crews was instrumental in arranging for an historical marker for Wilmington College on Market Street where the original campus was located, and he was involved in forming the Wilmington College Alumni Chapter Scholarship, so named so that "Wilmington College" will never be forgotten.

To honor Crews, UNCW has named a science scholarship, a distinguished faculty award and a street for him. He received the Alumni Association's Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award in 2006.

Media contact:
Dana Fischetti, media relations manager, 910.962.7259 or fischettid@uncw.edu