A Win-Win Gift

By donating his IRA required minimum distribution to UT, Allen "Al" Separk ('69) helped the UT College of Law and reduced his income tax liability.

Separk, a tax and fiduciary lawyer in private practice in Marietta, Georgia, is always looking at ways to help people give to the charity of their choice and save tax dollars.

For citizens in their 70s who have individual retirement accounts (IRAs), there is an easy solution to the problem created by the government's mandate of a required minimum distribution (RMD). Separk, like many of his clients, didn't need this extra income, so he did what he often advises his clients do—he donated it to his alma mater, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

"I've consistently made gifts to the law school over the years, although my gifts were very modest during my first few years following graduation," Separk says. "UT Law, when I was a student, was very competitive and very challenging, as I am sure it has continued to be. But in those days, only one in three students received their law degree. I was very proud to be one of those who finished, and I also felt that I was very prepared for the two bar exams that followed." Separk grew up in Durham, North Carolina, and got his undergraduate degree in business administration at East Carolina University.

"I actually went to law school for the education, as I did not envision myself practicing law," he recalls. "At UT, I became particularly interested in tax courses and estates and trusts and related subjects. I also worked part time selling life insurance with Connecticut Mutual and ultimately went to work in their advanced sales department."

In 1978, Separk established his own law practice focusing on tax, fiduciary, business, corporate, and elder law. He made his first multiyear gift commitment to the College of Law in conjunction with the Tennessee Tomorrow Law Campaign in 1981. He joined the college's alumni council in 1983 and has been a leader in every major fundraising initiative undertaken by the college since then.

During the 1990s, Separk established two endowments in the College of Law. The W. Allen Separk Faculty Development Endowment supports faculty research and salaries, while the W. Allen Separk Professorship of Law Endowment provides salary support for a faculty member in the college. He is also a member of the College of Law Dean's Circle. With his 35 years of service on one or both of the college's advisory boards, he is one of only five law alumni to have earned the distinction of being a "Life Member" of the Dean's Circle, which he chaired for nine consecutive years and a total of 13 years over two terms. In 2017, he was honored for his lifetime of volunteer service to the College of Law.

"Al exemplifies all that is great about UT College of Law and our alumni," says Dean Melanie Wilson. "He has selflessly given of his energy and resources for more than four decades. We are incredibly grateful for all his contributions."

The dedication of UT graduates like Al Separk is admirable. Without their support, we could not fulfill the educational goals of many of our students and faculty. If you would like to learn about giving to UT for the future, please contact the Office of Gift Planning at 865-974-3388 or giftplanning@utk.edu to get started.