Pope Scholarship Fund

In 1972 the Pope Scholarship Fund was established.  It has provided over $170,000 in financial assistance to 80 deserving students at colleges and universities in North and South Carolina.

Named in memory of industry pioneer Claude E. Pope, the scholarships are offered to college students studying mortgage banking, finance or a related field.  The scholarships are funded entirely by donations from members and the Scholarship and Recognition Committee's fund-raising efforts.

The $3,000 scholarships are offered annually to rising college juniors.  The committee awards one scholarship to a North Carolina student and one to a South Carolina student each year.      CLICK HERE FOR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

To qualify, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and an interest in a career in mortgage banking or finance.  The scholarships are a way to encourage talented young people to seek careers in our industry.

Claude E. Pope was actively involved with the Mortgage Bankers Association of the Carolinas, Inc. and was involved with scholarship opportunities for students through MBAC efforts.  He served as president of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America.  He served as North Carolina's Secretary of Commerce from January 8, 1987, to January 24, 1989.

During the 1989 Session of the General Assembly of North Carolina the Resolution shown below was ratified:

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

1989 SESSION

RATIFIED BILL

RESOLUTION 27

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 2034

A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF CLAUDE E. POPE.

Whereas, Claude E. Pope was born in Harnett County, North Carolina, on November 19, 1934, attended school in Harnett County, worked as a young man in Eastern North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and graduated from that institution in 1956; and

Whereas, Claude E. Pope was an astute and honorable businessman, whose dedicated service enriched not only those companies he served, but the people with whom he worked and transacted business; and

Whereas, Claude E. Pope established notable careers with such important North Carolina companies as Cameron-Brown Company and AMIC Corporation and served on the boards of directors of such nationally recognized corporations as First Union Corporation and Sunstates, Inc.; and

Whereas, Claude E. Pope always upheld the highest traditions of community service in his business career, serving in leadership capacities with such organizations as The Boy Scouts of America, the North Carolina Council for Economic Education, Peace College, and the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce; and

Whereas, Claude E. Pope was recognized by business leaders throughout the nation for his vision and forward-thinking and served with distinction as president of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America and as a member of the executive committee of the Mortgage Insurance Companies of America, bringing honor to the State of North Carolina; and

Whereas, Claude E. Pope worked tirelessly to assure all North Carolinians access to adequate housing, as evidenced by his membership in the Housing Roundtable, the Advisory Board of the Joint Center for Urban Studies of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, the Urban Land Institute, the Mortgage Roundtable of the National Association of Homebuilders, the Advisory Board of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and other similar organizations; and

Whereas, Claude E. Pope understood the importance of honorable political service, working with diligence and foresight to bring positive action for the benefit of North Carolina's people; and

Whereas, the desire to help his fellow citizens brought Claude E. Pope recognition for his wise counsel and energetic service to such organizations as the North Carolina Board of Economic Development, the North Carolina Housing Corporation, the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology, the Governor's Coastal Initiative Commission, the Governor's Aquaculture Commission, and other agencies; and

Whereas, Claude E. Pope served with distinction as North Carolina's Secretary of Commerce from January 8, 1987, to January 24, 1989; and

Whereas, during Claude E. Pope's tenure as Secretary, North Carolina led the nation in the recruitment of new manufacturing firms, experienced strong job growth, low unemployment and overall economic good health; and

Whereas, as Secretary of Commerce, Claude E. Pope worked hard to identify and tap new areas of economic opportunity for North Carolina; and

Whereas, Claude E. Pope showed tremendous courage in continuing to serve the people of North Carolina even while silently battling the illness which eventually took his life; and

Whereas, Claude E. Pope genuinely cared for every person he met, enriching the lives of all those he knew and who knew him; and

Whereas, his love and devotion to his family were known by all:  his wife, Elizabeth (Libby) Raynor Pope; his brothers, Pat and William Pope; his sister, Rebekah Pope Kase; his children, Sara Pope Titchener, Claude Jr., and William; his parents, Claude Efton and Rochelle Jackson Pope; and his six grandchildren; and

Whereas, the General Assembly wishes to honor the memory of Claude E. Pope and to recognize his many years of service to his beloved State and his fellow citizens;

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

Section 1.  The General Assembly of North Carolina recognizes the many accomplishments of Claude E. Pope, and expresses the gratitude and appreciation of North Carolina and its citizens for his life and service towards the betterment of all.

Sec. 2.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Claude E. Pope.

Sec. 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 27th day of June, 1989.

                                                               James C. Gardner

     President of the Senate

                                                               J. L. Mavretic

     Speaker of the House of Representatives

Pope Scholarship Recipients