(Posted 10-2-00)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News Service Contact: Steve Gilliam, 336-334-5371

UNCG PUBLIC SERVICE AWARDS PRESENTED TO
FOUNDATION DIRECTOR, HEADSTART LEADER

GREENSBORO—Thomas W. “Tom” Lambeth, executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, and attorney Ashley O. Thrift, who was instrumental in establishing the state’s Smart Start program, were honored for distinguished public service by The University of North Carolina at Greensboro on Sunday, Oct. 1.

Both are from Winston-Salem. Thrift will receive the Adelaide F. Holderness / H. Michael Weaver Award. Lambeth received the Charles Duncan McIver Award. Both awards are authorized by the UNCG Board of Trustees. They were presented during the University Founders Day Dinner.

Lambeth, a native of Clayton, has headed the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation since 1978. The foundation has awarded more than $275 million in grants supporting projects across the state of North Carolina. Before assuming that post, he held several positions involving service in both the public and private sectors. He served as an administrative assistant to N.C. Gov. Terry Sanford from 1961-65 and was an administrative assistant to former U.S. Rep. L. Richardson Preyer from 1969-78. He also was a member of the administrative staff of the Smith Richardson Foundation in Greensboro from 1965-69. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Lambeth received the institution’s W.R. Davie Award and a Distinguished Alumnus Award. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Reserve.

In addition to directing the activities of one of the state’s largest foundations, Lambeth has served on a number of important committees and boards. These include chairing the N.C. Teaching Fellows Commission and serving on the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In the state, he has served on the N.C. Legislative Commission on Jobs and Economic Growth. He has served as chair of the board of the National Center for Family Philanthropy. Lambeth was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Consolidated University of North Carolina from 1969-73. He also served three terms on the Board of Trustees of UNC-Chapel Hill, including two years as chairman. He currently serves on the boards of visitors of UNC-CH and Wake Forest University.

Thrift, a Charlotte native, has been involved in government or public service for much of his professional life. His involvement with Smart Start, officially known as the N.C. Partnership for Children, began as co-chair of the Forsyth Early Childhood Initiative, which was among the first of the county programs to be approved by the state organization. Because of his continued involvement and advocacy, he became chair of the board of directors of the state organization. Currently there are Smart Start organizations in more than 80 of the state’s 100 counties. Smart Start provides for programs such as parental education, child inoculation, Hispanic/English classes, transportation, library facilities, physical activity facilities, education and childcare.

Thrift had a 17-year career in Washington, D.C., before returning to North Carolina. He is currently a member of the law firm of Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge and Rice. During that time, he was legislative director, counsel and chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Ernest F. Hollings of South Carolina, from 1977-92, and as legislative counsel for U.S. Rep. James R. Mann of South Carolina. He also served as assistant counsel from 1976-77 for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary. Thrift is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and holds the J.D. degree from the University of South Carolina Law School.  Among his other activities, he is on the board of visitors of Winston-Salem State University and is vice chair of the board of trustees of the UNC Center for Public Television. He also chairs the government affairs committee of Lex Mundi, a global affiliation of more than 150 law firms located in more than 50 countries.

The Holderness/Weaver Award, a crystal bowl, recognizes North Carolinians who have rendered distinguished public service to the community, state or nation, but who would not be generally known on a national basis. It was named in honor of Adelaide F. Holderness and H. Michael Weaver to honor the two Greensboro residents who have been longtime supporters of UNCG and who served as co-chairs of The Second Century Campaign. The honor was awarded for the first time in 1999 to Betty Ray McCain, who is the state’s secretary of cultural resources.

The McIver Medal recognizes North Carolinians who have rendered distinguished public service to the state or nation. The bronze medal bears the likeness of Charles Duncan McIver, the founding president of the institution that is now UNCG. No more than one medal can be awarded in one year and there is no requirement that it be awarded annually.

 Past recipients of the McIver Medal have included historian Dr. John Hope Franklin; William C. Friday, president emeritus of the UNC system; former Congressman L. Richardson Preyer; Susie M. Sharp, former chief justice of the N.C. Supreme Court; Archie K. Davis, former board chairman of Wachovia Corp. and a founder and past president of the Research Triangle Park; and Henry E. Frye, chief justice of the N.C. Supreme Court.

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