Regina McLaurin ’70

The campus may look a lot different than when she was a student, but Regina McLaurin ’70 remains loyal as ever to Methodist University.

For decades, the McLaurin name was synonymous with parking in the Triangle, as her family’s business, McLaurin Parking Company, oversaw parking in the area since the 1940s. Regina McLaurin and her five siblings were always involved with the business – managing parking lots for special events and football games since she was teenager. But when it was time for college, she knew Methodist College was the right fit.

“It was close, and I really liked the atmosphere,” McLaurin said. “My father’s side of the family is from the area, so it felt like I was close to the area, even though I didn’t know much about it yet.”

McLaurin found her home away from home, majoring in English with a minor in Business. To this day, she reflects on some of her fondest memories as a student.

“I remember my friends and I going down to the Cape Fear River together,” she said. “I also remember a friend from my dorm who would sing in the stairwell at night. Her voice would vibrate off the walls and it was just fantastic.”

Following her graduation in 1970, McLaurin had her sights set on the family business. She quickly became the CFO and worked for McLaurin Parking Company until it was sold in 2017. In 1979, she was the first woman nominated to the National Parking Association Board of Directors (with which she later became a secretary and president). McLaurin’s business acumen also earned her the Methodist College Economics and Business Alumna of the Year in 1984 and the Methodist University Alumni Business Person of the Year in 2017.

During that time, McLaurin has stayed loyal to the University, regularly contributing to the softball program since 2001. She also supported the Softball Fieldhouse Campaign that helped establish the Price Softball Fieldhouse in 2022. In 2017, McLaurin even started an endowed scholarship under her father’s name, the William L. McLaurin Endowed Scholarship.

“When my father returned from World War II, he started the business,” McLaurin said. “There are pictures of me in a bassinet in the parking lot with my parents as they were working because they couldn’t afford anything else. They taught me so much about business and how to treat people.”

McLaurin hopes her family’s story helps inspire others to find a way to give back through their treasure like she’s been fortunate enough to do.

“Methodist University was a good fit for me and gave me a lot over the years,” she added. “I like to give back, and hope others are able to, as well.”