ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, August 14, 1996 TAG: 9608140062
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
TYPE: NEWS OBIT
SOURCE: JON CAWLEY STAFF WRITER
MEMO: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.
A prominent retired Roanoke businessman died Monday morning in Titusville, Fla.
William Perry Swartz Jr., 84, owned several businesses, under Swartz Enterprises, that stretched from Florida to New York.
Swartz, born in Smyth County, graduated from Virginia Tech in 1933 with a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering. He moved to Roanoke three years later to start his first business, William P. Swartz Jr. - Manufacturing Agent, in which he represented an industrial and technical paint manufacturer.
In Roanoke, Swartz owned William P. Swartz & Co., Roanoke Photo Finishing Co. Inc., Ropho Sales Inc., Ropho Graphic Arts Supply Inc., Double Service Film Co. Inc. and Swartz Realty Corp.
Swartz had business holdings in Georgia; New York; and Florida and Kentucky, where he owned radio stations.
Throughout his business career, Swartz also sat on the boards of several companies and organizations. He was chairman of the board for Security National Bank from its inception in 1963 until 1967. He was elected director of Estate Life Insurance Company of America in 1963; he served for 10 years as president of the Virginia District YMCA; in 1948, he was named chairman of the Roanoke Democratic Committee; and he served on the city Board of Health from 1956 to 1961.
In 1954, Swartz became active in the business affairs of Ferrum College, including serving as general chairman of the capital fund campaigns of 1959 and 1967. In 1960, he was elected chairman of Ferrum's Board of Trustees.
Swartz not only was a successful businessman, he also was well known for his philanthropy.
As president of the Swartz Foundation of Roanoke, he awarded Ferrum College a $200,000 grant; the college later named the William P. Swartz gymnasium after him.
In 1968, Swartz donated 66 home sites worth approximately $241,000 to Total Action Against Poverty to be sold to low-income families. The sites included 55 rental properties and were all of Swartz's real estate holdings except his own home.
Swartz had recently moved to Florida where he kept a winter home for many years.
LENGTH: Short : 50 linesby CNB