UMO receives $397,000 from local educator's estate
By From staff reports
Published in News on August 31, 2015 1:46 PM
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Wayne Bryant Roberts
MOUNT OLIVE -- The estate of the late Wayne Bryant Roberts, a longtime educator in North Carolina schools, a lifelong Presbyterian, and a devoted civic leader, has bequeathed $339,772 to the University of Mount Olive.
Much of the bequest is designated to providing scholarships to deserving students who might not otherwise be able to attend college.
More than $324,000 of the gift went to the Roberts-Swinson Endowed Fund established in December of 1994.
The fund now totals $397,240 and will forever provide annual student scholarships, university officials said.
Another $15,000 was earmarked for campus renovations and has been designated to the university's current capital campaign.
Roberts, a native of Duplin County, died on Feb. 16, 2014, at age 83. He was the son of the late Jesse Bryant and Lila Swinson Roberts.
He and his twin, Wyatt Elwood Roberts, were born May 26, 1930, on the family farm in the Beautancus area just southeast of Mount Olive.
He graduated from Calypso High School in 1948, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (AB), East Carolina University (MA), Peabody of Vanderbilt (EdS) and Appalachian State University (MA in reading).
He retired after 35 years as a teacher and principal in North Carolina schools, having spent 39 years in Davidson.
Shortly after establishing the Roberts-Swinson Endowed Fund, Roberts wrote to his family and friends encouraging them to also support the endowment.
"I wanted to make a contribution where my gifts would be needed most and help the largest number of people," he wrote. "So, I thought of a beloved doctor that delivered me, Dr. C.C. Henderson, and he delivered most Roberts and Swinsons during my childhood. He had a vision for Mount Olive College and left a sizable part of his estate to the college.
"Dr. Burkette Raper (who served the college for more than 50 years, more than 40 as president) took the vision of Dr. Henderson and did a superior job in molding to add to that vision and leave an influence to others after we are gone. We can build a sizable foundation here that could give lots of young people educational opportunities. Here at Mount Olive, we could help three students in comparison to one at a larger institution."
"Mr. Roberts could have given the bulk of his estate to any number of charities or causes, but he chose the University of Mount Olive because he knew his money would make a huge impact here for our students," said Teresa Hines, the university's director of planned giving. "The legacy that Wayne Roberts has left the university is profound, and his gifts will continue to benefit our campus and community for years to come."
Roberts was a lifetime member of Phi Delta Kappa, National Education Association, and National Education Association-R, district president for three years for Char-Meck Retired School Personnel and state president for North Carolina Retired School Personnel 1998-2000.
In the early 1970s, Roberts served as state president for the North Carolina Council of Reading.
In 1971, he was honored by Davidson College, which presented him with the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for his humanitarian efforts in the community.
In 1984, he was the first named principal from North Carolina for the Most Distinguished Principal, a program sponsored by NCAE and the United States Office of Education.
He was a member of the Lions Club for 50 years. He served as president and District C governor. He received five commendations and awards from International Presidents plus two charters of appreciation..