ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, July 26, 1996 TAG: 9607260064
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JON CAWLEY STAFF WRITER
WHILE PROMINENT in business, he also was known for community and political involvement and his philanthropy.
Elbert H. Waldron, a well-known Roanoke-area businessman and philanthropist, died Thursday at the age of 77 in Shawsville.
He had been ill and hospitalized for some time.
Waldron was best known for his real-estate ventures. He started a realty company in 1947 after returning from service with the Army in Europe during World War II. He branched off into the construction and management business in 1962, forming a partnership with Horace Fralin, creating Fralin and Waldron Inc.
"They were the perfect team, with Mr. Waldron's business experience and Mr. Fralin's engineering skills," said William Cates, Waldron's stepson.
"It was a wonderful, wonderful partnership," said his daughter, Karen Waldron. "They were the antithesis of each other, but they blended together perfectly for the 40 years they were together."
Fralin died in 1993.
Richard Whitney, president of Fralin and Waldron Inc., said Waldron "was a risk-taker and innovator in real estate, although he became more conservative in recent years. He was willing to try new ideas, and was pioneering in fields he was not experienced in.
"He was always making suggestions for better construction technique or method. Although he was never computer-literate, he pushed for the company to become more high-tech and involved."
Waldron was honored many times by the Virginia Home Builders Association, including Association Builder of the Year and induction into its Hall of Fame.
"He gave literally his heart and soul to the creation of his businesses," said Karen Waldron. "It was his love and passion and hobby. He devoted all of his time to business or family. He had an incredible love for his family and extended family. Those that worked for him at the office or farm were treated as family."
Fralin and Waldron Inc. built homes throughout Roanoke, managed numerous apartment complexes and created a group of nursing homes called Medical Facilities of America and Medical Facilities of North Carolina. Medical Facilities of America has 30 homes with 38,070 beds and Medical Facilities of North Carolina has seven homes with 850 beds.
Waldron "had a desire to help the elderly population," Whitney said. "His most cherished apartment projects were for the elderly in Virginia, so the next step was providing advanced care nursing homes."
Waldron's willingness to provide for the health-care field was magnified by his support of education.
Waldron also had a love of education, especially in the health care field.
"He didn't have much education himself, but he provided everyone in his family with education, and grants for others through Fralin and Waldron Inc. He was incredibly generous," Cates said.
He became a benefactor of Radford University, and together with his wife, Evelyn, he donated $1 million to the College of Nursing and Health Services.
"He had great beliefs that this was an industry that needs as much support as possible," Karen Waldron said. "He believed there would always be a great need for nurses."
Radford University President Douglas Covington called the Waldrons "the largest contributors ever to the College of Nursing and Health Services."
After the endowment, the college was renamed the Elbert H. and Evelyn J. Waldron College of Nursing and Health Services. Radford also awarded Elbert Waldron the honorary degree of doctor of business arts last spring.
"He is one of only two people to receive an honorary degree from Radford," Covington said. "No one has ever been more deserving of that tribute. He has set a fine example for the rest of us to follow. The whole university mourns his loss."
The Waldrons also made grants available through the Elbert H. Waldron and Evelyn J. Waldron Charitable Foundation. The foundation has donated to the Mill Mountain Playhouse, Artimus Writers Inc., American Heart Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Achievement Center.
Throughout his career, Waldron lent his leadership abilities to numerous organizations. He served as president of the Virginia Home Builders Association, Virginia Real Estate Association, Roanoke Valley Board of Realtors and Roanoke Valley Home Builders Association. He was senior life director of the Virginia Housing Development Authority, director of the YMCA and chairman of the Roanoke County Democratic Committee.
Waldron's community activities extended into politics. He was active in the Democratic Party and was on the platform when John F. Kennedy came to speak at the airport in Roanoke. He also was a delegate to the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago.
"He was a loyal party member and a very progressive man. He believed in giving people a hand up," said Del. Chip Woodrum, D-Roanoke. "He had a real feel, love and touch for the Western Virginia area."
Waldron "had a self-demeaning humor about himself," Woodrum said. "He would call you up and say, 'I know you don't want to hear from me,' but we always did."
"The highest compliment I can pay him is: If you could ever bottle the American experience and spirit, it would be Elbert Waldron," said Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Vinton. "He was a rough individual but a compassionate spirit with time to contribute to the community, mindful of less fortunate souls and willing to help; that was his calling card.
"He was always lobbying for the Roanoke Valley or Virginia Tech or Radford," Cranwell said. "I can't remember him ever asking me to vote for something that would have an impact on his personal business."
"Waldron did a lot symbolically for the valley," Woodrum said. "He was genuinely one of the good guys around. We will miss him sorely."
LENGTH: Long : 108 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Elbert H. Waldron< Noted for his philanthropyby CNB