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Public: Recent News

John Sanders, right, accepts award from Michael Crowell.

John Sanders, who directed the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina for nearly 25 years, was honored Feb. 21 as the 2008 recipient of the John McNeill Smith Jr. Constitutional Rights and Responsibilities Section Award.

The award was presented at the section’s annual meeting and CLE by Michael Crowell, professor of Public Law and Government at the UNC School of Government. Crowell also nominated Sanders, who directed the Institute of Government from 1962-73 and from 1979-92.

“The reason for nominating John for this award is his long involvement with the North Carolina Constitution,” Crowell stated. “For decades he has been recognized as one of the most knowledgeable people in the state on the history and meaning of the state Constitution.

“He was the principal staff person for the 1968 N.C. State Constitution Study Commission which produced our present constitution; he wrote the commission’s report explaining the revisions; he wrote frequently in Popular Government and elsewhere about state constitutional issues; he wrote the history of the constitution used in the version printed by the Secretary of State; and he was regularly called upon by legislative committees, individual legislators and other state officials to advise about constitutional issues.”

Outgoing Section Chair David Kushner, right, accepts recognition plaque from Michael Hamden.

Section Chair David Kushner participated in the presentation, which took place at the N.C. Bar Center.

The award was established by the section “to honor a person who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the ideals embodied in the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of North Carolina.”

John Charles “Jack” Boger, dean of the School of Law at the University of North Carolina who currently serves as a vice president on the NCBA Board of Governors, was the initial recipient.

Biographical information, contributed in support of Sanders’ nomination, reads as follows:

For decades, Sanders has been a pivotal figure both within the University of North Carolina and within the state of North Carolina. As director of the Institute of Government, Sanders was a characteristically quiet and determined leader. His clear vision and unwavering commitment to high standards resulted in a remarkable tenure, evident in the continuing success of the Institute and its transformation in 2001 into the School of Government. Key local, state, and university officials continue to seek Sanders’ counsel and guidance—most recently on complex state constitutional and tax issues. 

John Sanders’ impact within the university extends well beyond the School of Government.  His contributions are reflected in the many awards and acknowledgments bestowed upon him as well as the numerous committees he has guided.  His accolades include the Thomas Jefferson Award given by the University in 1988, the General Alumni Association’s 1992 Distinguished Service Medal, a 1994 Achievement Award from the NC Association of Colleges and Universities, and the William Richardson Davie Award given by the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees in 1997.

Despite his long list of University accomplishments, the mentoring relationships that John has forged with countless students are regarded among his greatest achievements. By extending himself to student leaders, he has helped to shape the successful professional and personal paths of countless students.  He remains a steady, guiding influence and friend for many and can be proud of these students, past and future, as they make their own contributions at local, state, national, and international levels.

Due to his respect for architecture and history, John Sanders fueled and supported many major preservation projects.  Notable among these is the preservation of the State Capitol building in Raleigh. John’s knowledge and commitment to historic preservation have earned him special recognition, including the Ruth Coltrane Cannon Award given by the North Carolina Historic Preservation Society in 1982, the Hardee-Rives Cup from the North Carolina Chapter of the Victorian Society in America in 1981, and the North Caroliniana Award in 1997 from the North Caroliniana Society.

“When you speak about John Sanders,” said Bill Friday upon John’s retirement from the Institute faculty in 1995, “you speak about the most sterling example of public service of anyone I know. Thomas Jefferson said every American owed something to his country, and John is the finest example of the Jeffersonian mandate.”