Bostock, Bovender Receive University Medals

Duke presented the 2023 University Medals for Distinguished Meritorious Service, the university’s highest honor, to Trustees Emeriti Roy J. Bostock and Jack O. Bovender, Jr., in conjunction with Founders’ Weekend, September 29-30.

Investor and businessman Roy J. Bostock’s ties to Duke are many. His extended family includes a Duke graduate in every decade since the 1930s. Bostock’s parents graduated from the university in 1935. His wife, Merilee, is a fellow member of the Class of 1962, and all three of their children are Duke graduates. After graduating from Duke, Bostock spent nearly four decades in advertising, and he founded and chairs Sealedge Investments, a private equity investment firm. He served on the Duke University Board of Trustees from 1991-2003 and chaired its Business and Finance Committee for 10 years.

Bovender’s long association with Duke began with his undergraduate education. He received his bachelor's degree in psychology from the university in 1967 and his master's degree in hospital administration in 1969.  He is the retired chief executive officer of HCA Healthcare, a network of 184 hospitals and about 2,000 sites of care in 21 states and in the United Kingdom. Bovender served on the Board of Trustees from 2007-2021 and was chair from 2017-2021.

Founders’ Weekend celebrates the founding of the university and provides an opportunity each year for the Duke community to reflect on the school’s history and recognize the leadership, contributions and impact of students, faculty, administrators, staff, trustees and alumni over the years. A complete list of previous recipients of the University Medal is available on the University Archives website.