W. Donald Carroll Jr. Receives Distinguished Service Award

W. Donald Carroll Jr. received the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award on November 20, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The award was presented by North Carolina State Bar Past-President A. Todd Brown, with additional remarks from Larry J. Dagenhart, Ted Fillette, Patrick Jenkins, and Ann Starrette.

Mr. Carroll was born in New York City in 1945. His family moved to Virginia in 1947, and he later settled in Charlotte in 1972. He received his undergraduate degree from Davidson College in 1967. He holds a master of philosophy degree from the University of Dundee in Scotland, an MFA in writing from Vermont College, and received his law degree with honors from the University of Virginia in 1971.

Mr. Carroll served as a law clerk for the Honorable James B. McMillan and practiced civil litigation from 1972 to 1991 at Helms, Mullis, and Johnston. In 1977, Mr. Carroll entered elected public service as the first elected representative for District 1 on the Charlotte City Council. During his tenure, he championed affordable, safe housing, worked with grassroots leaders to preserve historically Black neighborhoods, and advocated for increased funding to revitalize uptown Charlotte. He also participated in bus system financing reforms and focused on repairing, rather than demolishing, deteriorated housing. His leadership led to groundbreaking amendments to housing codes, including a requirement for landlords to provide safe, functional heating systems, significantly improving living conditions.

Mr. Carroll’s commitment to housing advocacy continued through his service on the Charlotte Housing Authority, where he served from 1982 to 1991 as commissioner, vice chair, and chair. He secured local funding to address the cessation of federal public housing construction and led the hiring of the authority's first Black director, further solidifying his legacy of equity and inclusion.

Mr. Carroll’s most profound contributions to the legal profession began in 1994 when he set aside his thriving legal career to lead the North Carolina State Bar’s Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP). At a time when addiction and mental health challenges among lawyers were often overlooked, Mr. Carroll became a pioneering advocate. His articulate and persuasive leadership helped destigmatize these issues, transforming the program into a critical resource and national model that helped countless lawyers rebuild their careers and lives while promoting professionalism and protecting the public. His ability to champion the program’s mission, even to skeptical audiences, left an enduring impact on the legal community. In 2000, Mr. Carroll was awarded the Addiction Professionals of North Carolina Outstanding Achievement Award. He also received the Jody Kellerman Award in 2009. Upon his retirement from LAP, Chief Justice Sarah Parker inducted Mr. Carroll into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest award for state service granted by North Carolina’s governor.

Mr. Carroll remains dedicated to service as an author and spiritual director, reflecting his commitment to justice, equity, and community well-being. From his skill in the courtroom to his transformative impact on affordable housing and his compassionate leadership of the Lawyer Assistance Program, William Donald Carroll Jr. exemplifies the highest standards of justice, equity, and service.