Walter W. Craigie Jr., who was a cherished member of the Randolph-Macon College community, was recognized with a posthumous award at the Excellence in Virginia Government Awards ceremony, held November 30, 2016 at the Richmond, Virginia Marriott. The event was sponsored by the Virginia Commonwealth University Wilder School’s Excellence in Virginia Government Awards program, which honors individuals and organizations that make noteworthy contributions to the practice of government and the betterment of Virginia.

During the awards ceremony, Craigie, who died March 3, 2016, was honored during the In Memoriam recognition. RMC President Robert R. Lindgren, Trustee Stephen P. Long, and Trustees Emeriti John B. Werner and Jack M. Enoch Jr. attended the event in recognition of Craigie’s many contributions to his community and to RMC.

Walter W. Craigie Jr.
Craigie’s relationship to RMC goes back to his great-grandfather, a pre-Civil War graduate of the college. In 1983, his father, Walter W. Craigie Sr., created the Walter W. Craigie Teaching Endowment, which was established to sponsor and champion faculty research, teaching, and other scholarly activity by providing funds on a competitive basis. Dozens of RMC professors have benefited from these generous grants.

In 2007, Craigie and his wife created the Walter W. and Berenice D. Craigie Scholarship, which is awarded to students based on academic merit and financial need. More recently, they made a significant gift to support the construction of RMC’s new science building.

Craigie was a member of the RMC Presidents Society, Heritage Society and was a trustee emeritus of the RMC Board of Trustees. He served for more than 40 years as an adviser on state government finances and budget under 10 Virginia governors and became the state’s first secretary of finance in 1972, during the Holton administration. He also served as senior advisor with Morgan Keegan & Company, a regional investment banking, securities brokerage, trust and asset management firm.

His non-profit work included chairman of the Woodberry Forest School Board of Trustees, a school founded by his great-grandfather; trustee and president of St. John’s Church Foundation; trustee, MCV Foundation; trustee, The Montpelier Foundation; and former trustee, Collegiate Schools.
In 2008, Craigie was presented the Honorary Doctor of Laws degree during RMC’s Commencement ceremony.