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

DATE: THURSDAY, March 23, 1995                   TAG: 9503230064
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: ELIZABETH OBENSHAIN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

HEDGEPETH NAMED CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

Roger Hedgepeth, Blacksburg's mayor for 121/2 years, received a standing ovation from local business and community leaders Tuesday night when he was named the Distinguished Citizen of the Year by the Greater Blacksburg Chamber of Commerce.

At the chamber's annual dinner, Hedgepeth was praised for his vision that has helped make Blacksburg a community with a national reputation "as one of the best places in the country to live," said Del. Jim Shuler, D-Blacksburg, in presenting the award.

Norman Fitzwater, who owns a local dry cleaning business, was honored as the Business Person of the Year for his leadership in starting a local "coats for kids" project that now collects, cleans and distributes more than 2,000 coats to low-income children and adults in Montgomery County.

Fitzwater and his wife moved to Blacksburg only 21/2 years ago to open their business, A Cleaner World, but in that time he has been active in several civic and school programs.

NationsBank,represented by banking center manager Kristin Hodges, received the Business in Education Award for its work with Margaret Beeks Elementary School.

Hedgepeth, whose tall, easy-going figure is well known around town and campus, where he is assistant director of Career Services at Virginia Tech, was praised for his imagination and his love of the Blacksburg community.

Shuler described the mayor's warmth, his habit of walking and chatting with downtown business owners and shoppers, and his ideas for improving the town's quality of life.

During Hedgepeth's tenure, the town has developed its transit system, revitalized the downtown, built an aquatic center and joined in the Blacksburg Electronic Village partnership with Tech and Bell Atlantic, Shuler pointed out. "He always puts the citizen first."

Hedgepeth returned the compliment to his audience Tuesday night when the applause died down. "It's very easy to be the mayor in Blacksburg because I'm looking out at the greatest people on Earth."

by CNB