By EMERY P. DALESIO, Associated Press

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Three North Carolina universities will share $140 million bequeathed by a Charlotte attorney and business investor who died earlier this year at age 96.

The money left by Porter Byrum announced Monday are for scholarships for students to attend Wake Forest University, Queens University of Charlotte and Wingate University. The universities said Byrum's final gift means he provided the three institutions a total of more than $235 million.

Byrum and three brothers from eastern North Carolina all attended Wake Forest tuition-free. Byrum decided to pass along the help he got by spreading the wealth he built from real estate investments and legal work.

He chose to help Queens University because it was near a shopping center he owned and Wingate University after a friend's recommendation.

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