Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 12, 1992 TAG: 9203120393
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
His file in this newspaper's library holds less than half a dozen yellowed clippings, and maybe only one more will be added to them. Spruell, 60, retired Feb. 28.
And yet, during his tenure, the Red Cross has gone through some of the most newsworthy events of the century on both the national and local levels. Major events included the AIDS scare, Hurricane Hugo, the 1985 flood, the separation of the blood services division from local chapters and the near-doubling of the Roanoke chapter's office space.
Spruell joined the Red Cross in 1956 because "I enjoy helping people," he said, and the Red Cross is the largest social service organization in the world.
Georgie Rakes, director of financial development, said that in the 19 years she has worked for Spruell, he has taken a low-key approach to managing the chapter. He depends on his chairmen to do their jobs, giving them the credit for achievements and working behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly.
"Jerry is an outstanding manager," she said. "He has very high standards and expects everyone to meet those standards. He's also good at delegating work."
Although Spruell is a "very private person," she added, "he likes people" and brings out the best in them. Despite his hands-off approach, she said, "nothing misses his eye."
Rakes said that perhaps the biggest challenge Spruell faced was the 1985 flood. The chapter raised more than $1.2 million in the aftermath, and Spruell put in extra hours and was on hand to advise the staff. "He's calm under pressure," she said. "He doesn't ask anyone to do what he wouldn't do himself."
"I didn't go to bed for three days," Spruell admitted.
One of the most important projects Spruell has been directly involved in is the United Way Loaned Executive program. For 15 years, Spruell has persuaded businesses to "donate" an executive to the United Way for a full year. The United Way, which also funds the Red Cross, gets the benefit of professional managerial experience, and the executive has an opportunity to meet Roanoke Valley business leaders.
He also started the chapter's annual "Donorama" 21 years ago. The event brings in large numbers of people to donate blood right before the Christmas holidays.
Heidi Krisch, chairman of the board of directors, said she and the other board members will miss Spruell. "We're very fond of him," she said. "He's been my mentor."
Krisch had the bad luck of joining the board three months before the 1985 flood. "I didn't know anything about [the Red Cross]," she said. As a member of the disaster relief committee, however, she learned fast.
Krisch said she'll miss Spruell's sense of humor. "He also has a lot of common sense," she said. "He can cut right through all the difficulties" to solve a problem.
One of the reasons she likes Spruell's replacement - Tom Brown, former director of the Waterloo, Iowa, chapter - is because he has some of Spruell's characteristics. He should do well in these tough economic times, she said.
Bayard Harris, who was chairman of the board from 1985 to 1987, agrees that Spruell will be missed. The two have become close personal friends through the years.
Spruell has an "understated technique," Harris said. His strength lies in the way "he lets people do what they do well, then thanks them for it."
During the flood, Harris said, "I doubt that we could have done what we did without him." In everything he's done, he's been "an unsung hero."
There have been many changes in the Red Cross in the past 21 years, Spruell said.
"The Red Cross has changed along with the rest of the world. It's completely different than it used to be."
Classes that formerly were taught only by the Red Cross, such as prepared childbirth and CPR, are now offered by hospitals and other organizations, and there is competition for students. Some of the most popular programs the chapter offers are water safety, first aid and lifeguard classes.
More importantly, the AIDS epidemic has turned the blood products division "topsy-turvy." As a result, it is no longer part of the chapter. Brown, the new director, will oversee chapter activities only.
Although there have been no problems in Roanoke, a physician will supervise the blood collection, and the division will be accountable to the board of directors and the national Red Cross.
Of all the things accomplished while he has been in office, Spruell is proudest of the 20,000-square-foot addition to the Red Cross building, which was completed in 1990. He credits the board of directors for having had the foresight to approve the project and to raise funds before the recession really hit hard. The board, he said, has been "wonderful. They're outstanding people."
Spruell said he is looking forward to retirement, although he's not quite sure what he's going to do with his time.
He and his wife, Betty, hope to travel, but Spruell seems to be resigned to spending a lot of time outdoors at his Bedford County home. "We have a large yard," he said, almost regretfully.
Keywords:
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