Claude E. McKinney (1929 - 2008)

The Trustees and staff of the National Humanities Center are deeply saddened by the death of Claude McKinney on November 11. McKinney was one of the Center's original trustees and served until his retirement from the Board in 2001, when he was elected Trustee Emeritus. His contributions to the Center and the Triangle academic were numerous and lasting as chief planner for NC State University's Centennial Campus, preservation advocate for Raleigh and Durham's historic buildings, and as one of the visionary's behind the look and feel of Research Triangle Park. A gifted artist in his own right, he became Dean of the School of Design at NC State University in 1973 a position that he held until 1988.

In addition to his responsibilities at NCSU, McKinney also served as President (1995-2003) Officer and Trustee of Triangle Universities Center for Advanced Studies Inc. (TUCASI), an advanced study consortium of three Triangle research institutions: Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University. Institutions located on the 120 acre TUCASI campus within the Research Triangle Park include: The National Humanities Center, The North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Sigma Xi (International Science Society), The National Institute of Statistical Studies, The Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and MCNC.

McKinney was a dedicated community servant and served on an exhaustive list of boards, task forces, commissions, and professional organizations including the National Humanities Center. All who knew him will remember with gratitude and deep appreciation his talents and generosity.