Michael Lebovitz '82 stands with his wife, Lauren, and son Murray, Class of 2018, after receiving the 2016 McCallie Distinguished Alumnus Award
At a luncheon for all local McCallie alumni, Michael Lebovitz ’82 received the highest honor available for McCallie Alumni when he was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Mr. Lebovitz has served in several roles as an alumnus at McCallie — not least of which are his 15 years of service on the Board of Trustees.
“Michael has been a board member for almost as long as I have, so believe me when I tell you that no one gives as much time to McCallie School, its boys, and the mission as Michael does,” Board Chairman Elliott Davenport '78 said. “He has spent countless hours sharing his expertise in construction. His knowledge and dedication saved this school thousands of dollars and have been pivotal in the building processes for Walker Hall, Presley Dorm, Burns Dorm and the Spencer McCallie quadrangle. As a Trustee, Michael has also been an invaluable member of the executive committee during transitional times such as appointing a new headmaster and working on the strategic plan. These are no small tasks and take someone who can put aside personal preference, roll up his sleeves and work selflessly to secure McCallie’s future.”
Mr. Lebovitz has offered much of his business expertise to McCallie as chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee, overseeing McCallie’s ever-changing and expanding footprint on the Ridge. As executive vice president of Development and Administration at CBL & Associates Properties, Inc., Mr. Lebovitz has built his livelihood in the field of property development and management, and he has been gracious enough to use these skills for the benefit of McCallie over the years, said officials.
In presenting the award, Headmaster Lee Burns ’87 noted the McCallie legacy of the Lebovitz family. As the son of Charles Lebovitz ’55 and brother to Steven ’79 and Alan ’86, Michael has had a reputation to uphold, and he has done that and more, he said.
“When Michael became a McCallie alumnus, he joined the ‘long blue line’ with perhaps greater expectations on his shoulders than most,” Mr. Burns said. “He not only carried the promise of a McCallie man, but also the legacy of a great family. Fellow alumni recall that even as a student, Michael took those responsibilities seriously. He has succeeded at both.”
Mr. Lebovitz was a six-year McCallie day student, and as a student he served as editor of the Argonaut and Pennant, the school’s literary magazine and yearbook respectively; was a member of Keo Kio, TEPS and SPIRITUALS; and received the Knox Smartt Bible Award, O'Brian Youth Award, and was a Century III State Scholar.
He received his BBA in 1986 from the University of Texas. In 1993, Mr. Lebovitz married Lauren Melnick. They have three children: Baras, Eliza Rose and Murray, class of 2018. In addition to his professional responsibilities at CBL, Mr. Lebovitz is a member of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce and the Jewish Federations of North America, where he recently completed serving as the National Campaign Chair. His previous board service includes the United Way of Greater Chattanooga, the UC Foundation, the Hillside School in Marlborough, Mass., the US Holocaust Memorial Council and its Executive Committee, and the national Hillel Board. Mr. Lebovitz was co-founder of One Clip at Time, a nonprofit dedicated to perpetuating the Paper Clips Project in Whitwell.