N.C. Philanthropist Leaves $140 Million to 3 Colleges for Scholarships

Three North Carolina Universities are the recipients of a $140 million bequest, Wake Forest officials announced Monday.

Porter Byrum, a North Carolina lawyer and businessman who died in March, directed more than $70 million of the total to Wake Forest, his alma mater, and instructed that the remainder be divided equally between Queens and Wingate universities, which will receive about $35 million. He stipulated that all of the money be used to endow scholarships

The bequest tops off many years of active involvement and many millions in donations Mr. Byrum gave the three institutions during his lifetime. In 2011 he gave the three a total of nearly $82 million, landing him on The Chronicle’s annual Philanthropy 50 list of the most generous donors, at No. 14. His total giving to the three organizations adds up to more than $235 million. He usually directed some portion of his gifts to financial aid.

Mr. Byrum grew up in a small North Carolina town, the son of a Baptist preacher. He earned a law degree at Wake Forest in 1942, fought in World War II, and practiced law for 60 years. He also invested in real estate.

“Through many conversations with him over the years, I learned that although his family was full of love, there was not always enough money for all their needs,” said Wingate University president emeritus Jerry McGee in a statement. “Over and over he talked about how the people who helped him get to college had no idea how much it would change his life and how he would like for other people to have a similar transformative experience.”