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

DATE: FRIDAY, July 1, 1994                   TAG: 9407010082
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

AFTER 38 SCHOOL YEARS, HE'S EARNED TIME OFF

For a few minutes, it appeared that Roanoke County's retiring school superintendent would ride home in a white limousine that pulled up to the front of the school administration offices in Salem at 4 p.m.

But that was just a decoy.

The limousine was intended to ease Wilson's anxiety about what the staff at the central school office might have planned to surprise him on his last day.

Just when Wilson and his two grandchildren, Charley and Ashleigh, were ready to get into the limousine, a restored antique school bus rolled around the corner.

And the school employees got the surprised expression and laughter from Wilson that they had hoped to evoke.

"Oh no," Wilson said. "Not this."

The limousine sped away as the antique bus pulled up to the curb.

Wilson was to ride home in a 1934 Dodge bus on the last day of a 38-year school career, including 14 as superintendent.

Wilson took the surprise in good spirits. A banner on the side of the bus said "Retired Superintendent."

The bus is almost as old as Wilson. It has been restored by Salem Quality Equipment Co. and is used in parades and other ceremonial activities.

Wilson climbed aboard the bus with his grandchildren, joining other family members who were in on the surprise and had boarded the vehicle before it arrived at the school offices. They rode together to his home in Salem.

Before leaving, Wilson spent part of the afternoon thanking the central staff members for their assistance during his long career.

About 50 school administrators, secretaries and other employees lined the front of the school administration building to wave farewell.

Among them was Ruth Wade, the School Board clerk, who has worked for the school system for 33 years.

Wade has been Wilson's secretary for 29 years and School Board clerk for 27.

She fought back tears.

"I am happy for him. Happy that he can enjoy his retirement," Wade said.

Wade said she will miss his compassionate understanding of people, and his ability to empathize with others' problems.

"He could always put himself in others' positions and understand what they were feeling, and see it from their point of view," she said. "People coming out of his office felt better after talking with him."