ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, April 16, 1996 TAG: 9604160107
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
When James Smith was sent to Lucy Addison High School in the late 1960s when Roanoke integrated its schools, he thought his wrestling career was over.
Smith had wrestled at Jackson Junior High, but Addison didn't have a wrestling team, and he thought he would have to give up the sport.
Charles Day was Addison's principal. Smith said he told Day about his love for wrestling.
Smith said he was a white kid from Southeast Roanoke and Day was the black principal of a school without a team. Smith said he never expected Day to take a personal interest in his situation.
"One day he asked, 'Son, do you want a wrestling team?''' Smith said. Soon, Addison had a team. Smith became a state high school wrestling champion, and he went on to be a college wrestler.
Monday night, Smith told Roanoke City Council that Day should be reappointed to the School Board because of the influence he has had on so many young people in Roanoke and his experience on the board.
Day, a retired principal and part-time counselor at Virginia Western Community College, has been on the board for six years. He is a former chairman.
"If I had to use one word to best describe him, it would be `impact,''' Smith said. "And you can't ignore his experience as an educator, a principal and School Board member."
At a public hearing on the four finalists for the two board seats with new terms beginning July 1, several speakers also urged the appointment of Martin Jeffrey and Brian Wishneff.
The Rev. Frank Saunders said Jeffrey is a "people person" who can communicate well with all groups in the community. "He remembers from where he came, but he also serves in so many capacities - he stays in touch with all levels of people," Saunders said.
Jeffrey is director of community development and outreach for Total Action Against Poverty. In that post, he serves as a contact point for many neighborhood groups and organizations, Saunders said.
"I sometimes wonder how he can do so much," he said. "He would not only be an asset on the [School Board], but he would be a jewel."
The Rev. Charles Green also urged council to select Jeffrey, adding he has gotten to know him as a member of TAP's board of directors.
"He understands people. He is friendly. He knows how to mix with people," Green said. Jeffrey also has a keen interest in education because he has three children in city schools, Green said.
Several speakers asked council to appoint Wishneff, the city's former director of economic development who now has his own consulting firm.
Wishneff is a "critical thinker" who knows how to build public-private partnerships, said Beverly James, city librarian, saying she was speaking as a private citizen.
James said she became acquainted with Wishneff when they worked together on the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center project.
Wishneff, who has three children in school, is involved in school activities through the Parent-Teacher Association and also serves as a coach for Little League baseball and basketball teams, she said.
Randy Edwards told council that Wishneff, as director of economic development for the city for 16 years, understands the importance of schools for business and industrial development.
"He has three children in school, and he understands the need for good schools," Edwards said.
Jeff Jennings said he has worked with Wishneff as a Little League coach and knows him well. "He is extremely good with children, and I would urge you to appoint him."
James Lowe, head of construction administration for Hayes, Seay, Mattern & Mattern, is the fourth finalist for the two seats, but no one spoke for him. Lowe and Jeffrey attended the hearing, but they did not speak.
Roanoke is one of the few localities in Virginia where school board members are still appointed by the governing body. Most have switched to elected boards.
Roanoke has a seven-member board with staggered three-year terms. The members can serve a maximum of three terms.
Finn Pincus, a six-year board member whose term expires June 30, is not seeking reappointment.
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