Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 7, 1990 TAG: 9007070354
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PETER MATHEWS NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The new members are Michael Hawes of Shawsville and Buford L. "Bo" Driskill Jr. of Lynchburg. Reappointed were Rhea F. Moore Jr. of Tazewell and Robert J. Grey Jr. of Richmond.
The appointments were Wilder's first to the 14-member board.
"We welcome the new appointees and look forward to working with them in helping higher education and Virginia Tech in these most challenging of times," Tech President James McComas said.
Hawes, 40, said he hoped he could use his financial expertise to make those challenging times easier to bear. He is a former assistant to the vice president for finance at Tech, and also was director of treasury management and bursar.
"When things start to squeeze, it takes a little bit of innovative financing and innovative thinking about financing," said Hawes, who has a bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia and a master's in business administration from Tech.
Hawes said he hoped Tech's other colleges could continue to improve as its architecture, business and engineering "flagships" have.
Hawes is vice president for finance and administration at OlverInc., Blacksburg engineering consultants. He serves on the Montgomery County Industrial Development Authority and is a former vice president of Smithey & Boynton, a Roanoke architectural firm.
Driskill, 61, is a regional sales executive for Griffin Pipe Products Co. in Lynchburg. He graduated from Tech in 1954 with a degree in business administration.
A member of the board of directors of the United States Tennis Association, Driskill said he hoped his knowledge of amateur athletics and the National Collegiate Athletic Association will help the university.
He said he believed Tech was doing a good job athletically as well as academically and should continue on the same path.
Driskill noted that some Blacksburg-area alumni fear Tech will concentrate its growth in Northern Virginia and elsewhere outside the New River Valley. They want the Blacksburg campus to grow substantially as a boost to the valley's economy.
"I'm not so sure that might be the right way to go," said Driskill, who said he was confident in university officials and would leave the decision of where and how much to grow "to the experts."
Hawes said he had not taken a stand on the local growth issue.
"I'm very definitely interested in the economic development of this area," he said. "Virginia Tech could be a very important part of that development."
Hawes replaces Joe Morrissette on the board and Driskill replaces Robert B. Claytor. Both had served two terms and were not eligible for reappointment.
Wilder's other appointments Friday included: Circuit Judge B.A. Davis III of Rocky Mount, Forensic Science Advisory Board; Jimmy L. Warren of Marion, Public Records Advisory Council; and Merle T. Alvis of Forest, State Advisory Board to the Virginia Employment Commission.
by CNB