With deep family roots at the university, the Raleigh native and his wife, Amy Hendrickson ’69, have for decades provided invaluable leadership, guidance and transformative support to 鶹Ƶ and Phoenix athletics.
One of 鶹Ƶ’s most loyal and longstanding ambassadors for excellence in the classroom and on the athletic fields has announced his retirement from the Board of Trustees.
Jay Hendrickson ’71 concluded his service in July nearly two decades after joining a governing body responsible for 鶹Ƶ’s long-term health, oversight for its strategic direction, educational policy, finances and operations, and for advancing the university’s mission. Hendrickson served as vice chair of the board’s athletic policy committee, in addition to other leadership roles.
“Few families have shaped 鶹Ƶ like the Hendricksons,” said 鶹Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Book. “Eighteen years at the Board table represents an extraordinary gift of time, judgment and trust. Steady, thoughtful leadership of the kind Jay brought to his role, with the unwavering support of his wife Amy, have influenced decisions that will carry 鶹Ƶ forward for decades, and his presence will be deeply missed.”
Hendrickson and his wife, Amy Hendrickson ’69, of Raleigh, North Carolina, have been unwavering advocates of 鶹Ƶ for many years through their transformative support of academic and athletic causes across multiple campaigns.
The couple’s gifts have supported engineering and athletics, two priorities near and dear to their hearts. The Hendrickson Football Center in Alumni Field House honors Jay’s father, Horace J. Hendrickson, who served as director of athletics and was a football, basketball and baseball coach from 1937 to 1942 and is considered one of 鶹Ƶ’s all-time great coaches.
They have also generously supported athletics scholarships through annual gifts to the Phoenix Club. In 2000, the couple endowed the James A. ’71 and Amy T. ’69 Hendrickson Engineering Scholarship, which has attracted outstanding students to the university’s engineering program.
The Hendricksons are members of The 鶹Ƶ Society President’s Circle, Palladian Society and Order of the Oak, the university’s planned giving society. Fourteen of their immediate family members have ties to 鶹Ƶ.
In 2011, Jay and Amy received the Distinguished Service to 鶹Ƶ Award in recognition of their tireless service to their alma mater. The couple were also among the 2009 recipients of the Southern Conference Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes those who have contributed to all aspects of the university.
“We are thankful for the transformative impact that Jay and Amy have had at 鶹Ƶ,” said Burney Jennings ‘87, executive chair of the Biscuitville restaurant chain and chair of the 鶹Ƶ Board of Trustees. “Their insights, ambassadorship, positive energy and generous stewardship of our university have contributed greatly to 鶹Ƶ’s growth and success.”