FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Terry Spicer, University Relations
Shaw University
(919) 719-1999

Senator Vernon Malone, Distinguished Shaw Alumnus Has Died

Raleigh, NC - (April 18, 2009) Distinguished Shaw Alumnus, State Senator Vernon Malone died at his home of natural causes. As a Democrat, he represented eastern and northeastern Wake County in the North Carolina General Assembly for four terms and held public offices in Wake County for over three decades, including county commissioner from 1984 to 2002. Senator Malone was a committed and loved member of the Shaw University Family and Board of Trustees and served as Vice-Chair.

Dr. Clarence G. Newsome, President of Shaw University issued this statement. "On behalf of Attorney Willie E. Gary, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Board members and the Shaw Family, we express and extend our love and condolences to the family during this great time of loss. Trustee Malone was one of the most upright and principled humanitarians in the world. He exuded integrity, commanded respect and inspired people because he was true to his values that were oriented towards helping others and improving his community, our state and the world-at-large. He personified values and was the embodiment of our motto "Pro Christo Et Humanitate." No finer person has demonstrated the mission of the University, his Christian beliefs and sacrificial giving to others and the world. He lived to make the world immeasurably better as an educator, legislator, church officer, friend, father and Trustee. With the Board of Trustees, he brought steadying influence and a sense of progressive vision to maintain focus and a sense of what Shaw was to become as one of the finest institutions of higher learning. We will miss him but he will live on in us. As President, I speak on behalf of the University. We will re-double our sense of commitment to our vision and in the upcoming school year as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of SNCC, we will do so in memory of him. He wasn't a founding member of SNCC but he lived the principles of its origin."

Arrangements are incomplete at this time but will be released to the Shaw Family upon receipt from the family.