Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 19, 1993 TAG: 9309190119
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The surgery was performed Friday at Duke University Medical School, where he checked in Wednesday after feeling ill for several weeks.
Larry Hincker, a spokesman for McComas Tech, said that when he talked with McComas on Saturday morning, the president was in good spirits.
Hincker said he could not provide additional information on the surgery and McComas' condition until after McComas talks with his physicians.
The university will provide more information as it becomes available, Hincker said.
McComas had flu-like symptoms earlier the summer, but it was only in recent weeks that he felt ill enough to miss work some days, Hincker said.
McComas, 64, began feeling ill after he returned from a university-related trip to Ireland, according to Darrel Martin, his assistant.
McComas took antibiotics for five or six weeks, but he began to feel even worse recently, Martin said Saturday.
McComas' health has been remarkably good in recent years, Martin said. He's the type of person who works through colds or the flu without complaining or talking about it, Martin said.
Because of his illness, McComas missed a major meeting of the state's university presidents 10 days ago to discuss proposed budget cuts to higher education.
There was no immediate word Saturday on how long McComas will be in the hospital or when he will return to work.
"We don't know when he will be back. We don't know if it will be a few weeks or longer," Hincker said.
McComas, Tech's president for five years, is expected to talk with his physicians today.
Fred Carlisle, Tech's provost and senior vice president, will be in charge of the university while McComas is away.
The university's operations will continue as usual, Martin said.
McComas is expected to remain in touch with university officials by phone, he said.
Tech is facing an important time with the fray over proposed cuts in state money for higher education, creation of the New Century Council to promote economic development in New River and Roanoke valleys and other issues, Martin said.
Either Carlisle or Vice President Minnis Ridenour will represent Tech at a meeting this week with Gov. Douglas Wilder to discuss the proposed budget cuts for higher education, Hincker said.
"We will have someone there for the meeting," he said.
McComas' illness should not hamper the campaign by the state's university presidents to prevent cutting state support for the schools, Hincker said. Ridenour has been handling the budget-cut issue for Tech.
McComas is co-chairman of the New Century Council with Thomas Robertson, president of Carilion Health Systems. Martin has been handling much of Tech's work with the council on behalf of McComas.
The New Century Council is an alliance of Roanoke's Business Council and New River Valley business leaders aligned with Virginia Tech. It was formed in August to create a vision for Western Virginia's economic development in the next century.
While McComas will be missed, he said, the university has a talented management team that can oversee its operations during his absence.
"We've got a good senior management team and a strong Board of Visitors to lead the university [until McComas is back]," Hincker said.
Before coming to Tech, McComas was president of the University of Toledo from 1985 to 1988, and Mississippi State University from 1976 to 1985.
by CNB