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

DATE: THURSDAY, June 16, 1994                   TAG: 9406210089
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SALEM OFFICIAL DIES AT AGE 43

James T. "Skip" Nininger Jr., Salem's building official and zoning administrator, died Tuesday while attending a retreat at a Patrick County lodge.

Nininger, 43, was at a management training retreat with about 20 other Salem governmental department directors. The retreat was just getting under way when Nininger complained of chest pains and collapsed, City Manager Randy Smith said Wednesday.

Nininger was taken to a medical center near Hillsville but never regained consciousness, Smith said. He said it appeared Nininger had a heart attack.

The retreat was canceled.

"We packed up and put everything back in the boxes," Smith said. "With the small number of department heads we have, it's like a big family. This has been really hard on that group."

Nininger left his 15-year post as building official for Roanoke County in 1991 to succeed his father, Jim, who was retiring from the Salem position.

Of the opportunity to fill his father's shoes, Nininger once said, "It's nice. It's kind of like leaving one family and going to another."

A memorial service for Nininger will be held at 11 a.m. today at John M. Oakey & Son in Salem.

by CNB