University of Virginia Library

COMMITTEE ON SPECIAL RECOGNITION

The Board discussed the possibility of devising ways and means to give special recognition to
those persons who have been outstanding benefactors of the University. In most other institutions,
the device is the award of an honorary degree. Following the views of the Founder, however, the
University of Virginia has never awarded an honorary degree and the Board was unanimous in its opinion
that no such practice should be started

After discussion, the following resolution was adopted

RESOLVED by the Board of Visitors of The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia that
the Rector, with the advice of the President, be and he is hereby authorized and directed to appoint
a special committee to consider ways and means, if appropriate, of giving special recognition to those
individuals who by their acts have shown themselves to be outstanding benefactors of the University
of Virginia

[Subsequently the Rector, on 17 February 1964, appointed a Committee on Special Recognition consisting
of Langbourne M. Williams, Chairman, Hunter Faulconer, and Frank W. Rogers.]