New UNC Professorship Honors Robinson Bradshaw Founding Partner

The UNC School of Government has announced the creation of the Robert W. Bradshaw Jr. Distinguished Professorship, honoring Robinson Bradshaw founding partner Bob Bradshaw.

The professorship was made possible by a gift from Robinson Bradshaw attorney Richard Vinroot and his wife, Judy, which was matched in part by the state of North Carolina's Distinguished Professors Endowment. The Vinroots' $1 million pledge was given to honor Bradshaw as a longtime friend, mentor and law partner. Another portion of the gift established the school's Robert W. Bradshaw Jr. Public Administration Fellowship.

"Bob Bradshaw was a special mentor to me in our firm," Richard Vinroot said, "and a dear friend to our family for more than 40 years. Judy and I wanted to honor Bob's life and legacy in a significant way, and to benefit the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which has been immensely important in our and our children’s lives." 

Bradshaw, who passed away in 2012, practiced law at Robinson Bradshaw for 40 years. Outside of his legal work, Bradshaw was active in North Carolina politics, including chairing the state's Republican Party. He was committed to community service and served on many nonprofit organization boards, including Blumenthal Performing Arts, Central Piedmont Community College and the Levine Museum of the New South. Bradshaw earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Duke University.

Vinroot is a commercial litigator at Robinson Bradshaw, focusing on land use and zoning, real estate development, construction and employment. He served as mayor of Charlotte from 1991-95. Vinroot earned his bachelor's degree and his law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a John Motley Morehead Scholar and a varsity basketball player under Dean Smith.

Willow Jacobson and Kara Millonzi received the permanent Robert W. Bradshaw Jr. Distinguished Professorships, and Shea Denning and Tyler Mulligan received the Robert W. Bradshaw Jr. Term Professorships for Faculty Excellence.

"We are pleased by the University's selection of these four distinguished men and women," Vinroot said. "We hope and believe that their good work will continue to honor the memory of our dear friend Bob for many years to come."