2014 Zenith Medal for Service: Charles Case

The 2014 recipient of the Zenith Medal for Service is Charles Case. Case earned his B.S. in physics from NC State in 1973, and then went on to Harvard Law School, earning his law degree 1977.

Since then, Case has become one of the most prominent environmental lawyers in North Carolina. He is a partner with the Hunton & Williams law firm, focusing on air and water pollution, energy and power generation, and other environmental compliance and administrative law issues. He has handled matters involving all major federal and North Carolina environmental programs, including the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, and has drafted or lobbied significant North Carolina environmental legislation, including the State Environmental Policy Act.

His numerous awards and honors include membership in Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite Hall of Fame; in fact, he was the first member in the Hall’s of Fame’s Environmental Law division. In 1991, Case was named a PAMS Distinguished Alumnus in recognition of his achievements.

Despite his extremely busy professional life, Case has been one of this College’s most active alumni. He is currently serving his sixth four-year term as a member of the College’s Foundation Board of Directors. He has served in various leadership capacities on the board, including as board president and chair of the Investment Committee.

Over the last two-and-a-half decades, Case has been engaged with PAMS and now Sciences in a variety of ways, serving on campaign committees, reviewing bylaws and providing advice and counsel as needed.

Case is also a generous financial supporter of the College and numerous other entities across the university. He was an inaugural member of the Dean’s Circle, the College’s leadership giving society, and he has also made a significant planned gift that includes the College.