Davidson College in North Carolina has received $1 million to establish an economics professorship named after donors Ernest and Gail Doe of Los Angeles.

The Gail M. and Ernest G. Doe Professorship of Economics will recognize teaching excellence, professional accomplishment and "moral and intellectual values," according to the university. The first Doe Professor is Peter Hess, the interim economics department chairman.

Ernest Doe studied economics and played varsity football before graduating from Davidson in 1969. He later earned a master's degree in finance from UCLA before going into motel development and banking. He is director of Hanford Hotels Inc. Gail Doe is a former English teacher and manager with Security Pacific Bank.

The professorship will support the recipient's full course load and pay for research, equipment and travel expenses.