TALLAHASSEE—With a gift of $100,000 to the Florida State University College of Law, Orlando attorney A. Wayne Rich has created the A. Wayne and Gwen Rich Endowment for Excellence. 

The income from the A. Wayne and Gwen Rich Endowment for Excellence will help fund a number of the law school’s resources including student scholarships, faculty incentives and co-curricular activities. In making the disbursement of the donation flexible, Rich, a member of the law school’s second graduating class in 1970, said he is hopeful that the gift will aid any person, activity or resource at the school that needs a little extra help. 

“Fortunately, I am in a position where I could give back to the school that helped my career so much,” Rich said, an of counsel attorney in the real estate and eminent domain practice in the Orlando office of Broad and Cassell. “Hopefully, this will help put a person or group over the top and allow them to do the things they want in school.”  

While in law school, Rich and his classmates were among the first law students to work at state agencies, and that led to externships for college credit. “Florida State College of Law had a significant impact in my business and legal career,” Rich said of his days at the school. “This is a worthwhile thing to return the favor.” 

A lifetime Orlando resident, Rich served as attorney for the city of Orlando. He was appointed by Gov. Lawton Chiles in 1992 to the Orlando County Expressway Authority and served as its chairman for seven years. He also is active in a number of community and professional organizations.