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

DATE: SUNDAY, March 29, 1992                   TAG: 9203290030
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

WITH FONDER OUT, GAMES NEXT?

My wife and I enjoyed working as volunteers and having our three children participate in the 1990 and 1991 Virginia State Games.

The Games' benefits to the Roanoke Valley are substantial. Families visiting from Northern Virginia told us: "We thought Roanoke was just a railroad town, and this place is Virginia's best kept secret; it's beautiful."

Roanoke is fortunate to have the Games, and it's exciting that the community has provided the financial support mentioned in your March 13 article. You and Jack Bogaczyk clearly imply that the VAS indeed is now "cashing in" on work done by former executive director, creator and founder Doug Fonder.

The State Games are in Roanoke because of the vision and hard work of Doug Fonder. His firing, orchestrated by VAS chairman Ken King, appears to have resulted from a personality conflict between King and Fonder and [to have been] supported by a largely uninvolved board (nine of 18 present to vote on his firing).

Was Fonder asked to work at a reduced salary, or for no salary, until the funds he promised, that now have arrived, were in? No. He was called in . . . fired . . . and locked out of his office the same day.

The new VAS president, appointed by King, is from Richmond and has stated privately the Games probably will be moved to Richmond next year.

Richmond and Tidewater plan to bid for next year's Games. With Fonder in charge, the Games could possibly be kept in Roanoke. Now, this is doubtful. Roanoke, once again, comes up the loser.

DICKIE ROE ROANOKE