R. A. Bryan Foundation has a tradition of multigenerational giving
Some of the most generous supporters of NC State University and the College of Engineering come from multiple generations of family members who have attended NC State. The Bryans are one such family.
According to Stephen C. Bryan, vice chairman of T. A. Loving Company headquartered in Goldsboro, NC, family commitment to the University began with his grandfather, Raymond A. Bryan, Sr., who attended NC State for engineering as part of the class of 1922, and continued with his father, Raymond A. Bryan, Jr., who graduated from NC State in 1953 with a degree in construction engineering. Steve Bryan, who received his B.S. degree in engineering operations with a construction option at NC State in 1982, sustains that commitment.
The family’s generous service and philanthropy are tied to their business success and their desire to give back to their alma mater and community.
Bryan Sr. joined T. A. Loving Company in 1931 and became president of the company in 1947 and later served as chairman of the board. Bryan Jr. took over as president from his father in 1969, and then served as chairman of the board from 1988 until he passed away in 2016.
The construction company is a well-respected, award-winning building, utility and bridge contractor. Its numerous construction projects include many on NC State’s campus such as the North Carolina State University Alumni Center built in 2006.
His success at T. A. Loving and with other business ventures led Bryan Sr. to form the R. A. Bryan Foundation in the late 1950s, a private family foundation, which through the years has made generous contributions to NC State University, Campbell University and Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, N.C., among others.
“I don’t know why the (foundation) was started,” Steve Bryan said, “but you know, my granddad was a modest fellow, and he made helping others a priority.”
For his service to NC State, Bryan Sr. received the Watauga Medal in 1977.
Bryan Jr. inherited his father’s modesty, business acumen, civic responsibility and philanthropy. Like his father, he was dedicated to NC State University. He was a past president of the Wolfpack Club, a former director of the NC State Engineering Foundation Board, a Peele Lifetime Giving Society member, a 2007 recipient of the Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award and a 2013 recipient of the Godwin Red Torch Award for furthering the mission of the NC State University Foundation.
At his impetus, the family foundation established several endowments in the College, including the R. A. Bryan Foundation Scholarship Endowment in 1996 and the R. A. Bryan Foundation Construction Engineering and Management Endowment in 2008.
More recently, the family made a significant donation to the Fitts-Woolard Hall project. Their $2 million pledge to the building project was among the first.
Since his father’s passing in 2016, Steve Bryan manages the R. A. Bryan Foundation and has participated in alumni meetings to encourage others to donate to Fitts-Woolard Hall.
The Bryan family service to NC State continues into a third generation.
Return to contents or download the Fall/Winter 2018 NC State Engineering magazine (PDF, 3MB).
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