ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, June 23, 1996 TAG: 9606210008
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
People who have worked with Warner Dalhouse in business and on civic activities have plenty to say about him. Here's a sample:
"His reputation for integrity and honesty is beyond question. Every worthwhile project in the Roanoke Valley has his fingerprints on it.
I think his leaving the bank is no indication he will cease to serve and use his expertise. He has a passion for what is best for Roanoke. Not everyone has the unique feeling for the community he has exhibited." - Former Roanoke mayor, the Rev. Noel Taylor
"He's been a good board member. He sees things through a regional perspective which is good for us.He tends to think from a regional basis." -Thomas Robertson, president of Carilion Health System
"I think he's made some real contributions to the valley that should not be forgotten. It's hard to find someone with that concern for the community. It will be hard to duplicate that again.
"It's the final act in the changing of the guard. The new group will go about things a lot differently." - Guy W. Byrd Jr., president of Valley Bank < "I've known him pretty well for a long time. He's been a real asset to the community. He's led his company to do a lot of things for the community. As a competitor, I've envied his ability to do those things. As a Roanoker, I was grateful." - Douglas Waters, regional executive officer for NationsBank
"He's an eloquent spokesman for what we believe in. He's done a wonderful job as chairman of our capital campaign, which is off to a good start." - Charlotte Porterfield, board chairman of Planned Parenthood "As chairman of the Shenandoah Life board, I served on the board with him for five years. He really was most helpful. He came to us with a great deal of experience in corporate affairs. Warner was chairman of the board's investment committee, and a substantial part of the company's earnings come from its investments. He pretty well chaired the committee to find the company's new executive officer. He conducted a national search and found the appropriate person.
"He's very witty and very quick on the trigger. Warner is a very valuable board member." - Clifford A. Cutchins III of Virginia Beach, retired president of Sovra Bank, a predecessor of NationsBank, and retired board chairman of Shenandoah Life Insurance Co.
"Warner's been on the board since 1991. He was on the executive committee and took the chairmanship Jan. 1, 1996. As chairman of the board, he will do all the things that normal chairmen do. In our case, that's to promote the best interest of the policyholders.
"It's helpful that he's so involved and committed to community cultural events and social services. He knows most of the important things going on. It's helpful to make sure our company does its part.
"Warner's got a great sense of humor. He keeps the board meetings focused and moving forward. It's helpful that he organizes things and makes the process very efficient and effective. He works extremely well with all of our board members, a lot of whom live in this area." - Robert Clark, president of Shenandoah Life Insurance Co.
"We couldn't have done it [restored former Jefferson High School to create Jefferson Center] without him. He was quite a leader. He can raise more money in a day than I can raise in a month.
"The committee to save Jefferson High School was founded in 1985, and the board was formed in 1989. Warner's held office ever since. We raised $2.25 million to add to the $3.5 million from a city bond issue to open Jefferson Center.
"We're going to do that with the [Jefferson] auditorium, too. We're going to put in a hydraulic stage and chandeliers and push back the stage into the old gym. The Jefferson Center concert hall will approach the grandeur of the old American Theater and the Academy of Music." - Retired Judge Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, chairman of the Jefferson Center. board
"I think he's someone who's done a lot more for the Roanoke Valley than anyone imagines. The man has true grit, he really does. When the bank was sold, some people were really nasty, and he could have said he would take his marbles and go somewhere else with them. But he still does a lot of useful things for the Roanoke Valley." - Heidi Krisch, civic leader and head of the Jefferson Center fund- raising campaign
"We've had a great relationship with Warner from our standpoint. First Union has merged with a lot of banks, but we haven't found many people as helpful and straightforward as Warner. He's done everything we've asked of him and more.
"He's a man of his word. He's been incredibly helpful. It's been a great partnership. He's helped with the banks, the community and our other acquisitions. It's not always that way. He's done more than the team could have asked for in the transition." - Ben Jenkins, president of First Union National Bank of Virginia who wil also add the title of chairman when Dalhouse retires effective July 1
"The valley is really going to miss his energy, miss his knowledge and miss his excitement. He's the best salesperson for this valley who's ever been around." - Betty Carr Hancock Muse, a founder of Center in the Square
"Warner Dalhouse is probably one of the smartest people I know. He has a lot of integrity and a lot of class.
"He supported me in the City Council election, which shows he can go with character over party when it makes sense. He supported me as an individual and overrode the tradition he follows when it's the right thing to do. That's what leadership is about." - Alvin Nash, who works for Total Action Against Poverty and ran unsuccessfully for Roanoke City Council on the Republican ticket
LENGTH: Long : 119 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Headshots of Taylor, Robertson, Cutchins, Fitzpatrick,by CNBJenkins and Nash.