
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 9, 1991                   TAG: 9103090159
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

CHAMBER HONORS LEADERS IN COMMUNITY

The Christiansburg-Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce recognized area business leaders for their achievements and community activities in the past year at the group's annual banquet Friday at Blacksburg's Holiday Inn.

William H. Aldridge, owner of The Furniture Market in Christiansburg, received the chamber's Outstanding Service Award for volunteer service to the chamber and community.

In his 22 years in local business, Aldridge has been president and a member of the chamber board, headed up the Wilderness Trail Festival in its earlier days, been "Long Way Home" drama committee chairman and held other community posts.

Ruth K. Lester, a Christiansburg resident since the '40s, is the chamber's Distinguished Citizen of the Year for her work with the Montgomery County Christmas Store, the New River Free Clinic and such other groups as the Montgomery Museum, the Christiansburg Woman's Club and the Wilderness Trail Festival.

She was also active for years in her family business, Lester's Foto Shop in downtown Christiansburg.

The Commerce Award went to Central Fidelity and its employees for giving time and money to community efforts.

The bank has donated time to the Montgomery County Improvement Council's annual clean-up, to Big Brothers and Big Sisters, to the United Way and to local schools' business partnership projects.

Individual employees mentioned for their community work were Taylor Cole, Norma Carroll, Juanita Ellett, Lisa Epperly, Keith Houghton, Francis "Butch" Irvine and Michael Lynch.

The chamber's Business-Industry Education Award went to Ernie Bentley of the Copy Center.

by CNB