ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, November 21, 1996 TAG: 9611210039
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
MEMO: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.
Betty Thomas announced Wednesday that she will resign as Montgomery County administrator in four months, ending a tenure as one of Virginia's earliest and longest-serving female local government executives.
Thomas, 59, who gained the post in 1981, said she wants to pursue other interests. Health problems that kept her away from work for six weeks this summer influenced her decision, she added.
Her decision caught many county staff members by surprise, although Board of Supervisors Chairman Henry Jablonski said Thomas had privately discussed stepping down for some time.
"I just need a rest, some downtime," she said.
Thomas confirmed her resignation "with a sense of sadness" at a press conference announced only three hours before it began. She said she would remain on the job until March31.
She thanked a crowd of county employees and local officials for their support during her "challenging and highly gratifying career."
Several of those officials praised Thomas for her affability and warmth, which they said helped soothe conflicts common to local government matters.
"It's been a pleasure to know Betty both as a colleague and a friend," said Ron Secrist, Blacksburg's town manager.
"She's been very cooperative," said Harold Linkous, Christiansburg's mayor, who has worked with Thomas for 26 years. "I hate to see her leave."
A native of Floyd, Thomas said she inherited her "deep-seated love for government" from her late father, Paul Sutphin, who served as Floyd County sheriff from 1960 to 1972.
"That made me want to achieve," she said.
After being a secretary in her father's department, Thomas was hired by Montgomery County in 1972 as an administrative assistant to the county administrator.
After twice serving as acting county administrator, in 1976 and 1981, the Board of Supervisors elevated her to the job full time. At that point, she was one of only three female administrators in Virginia's 95 counties.
"She would serve as an interim administrator, and then they'd find someone. Then that person wouldn't work out, and they would put her back," said Flippo Hicks, a longtime official with the Virginia Association of Counties. "Finally the county got tired of it and said, 'To heck with it, let's keep her in there.'''
Thomas will retire as one of the state's longest-serving county administrators and one of few to have risen through the ranks, said Flippo Hicks, a longtime official with the Virginia Association of Counties.
A self-described workaholic, Thomas has overcome gender barriers and the lack of a college degree to gain a job that pays $77,216 annually.
"I find that you can accomplish almost anything if you have the right approach," she said. "I always respect people. That's just the way to run a government."
A number of officials cited Thomas' personal approach as a key to her success. "She's always so courteous and nice. A great lady. Very professional," said Supervisor Ira Long.
Thomas was circumspect about future plans, saying only that she plans to remain in Montgomery County and "pursue some personal opportunities which have been placed on hold for many years now."
She said surgery that required a hospital stay this summer accelerated her plans to step down. "I feel much better now," she added.
In 1991, Thomas married Richard Yearwood, a former county supervisor who was board chairman when she was hired as administrator.
Thomas said she will remain on the job through March to direct preparation of the county's 1997-98 budget. She also offered to assist with the search for her successor, which Jablonski said will begin soon.
Jeff Lunsford, assistant county administrator, said he hadn't thought about applying to replace Thomas. "I just heard about it this morning," he said.
"She did a great job," Long said. "She was a great help to me from Day One. It's a sad day."
Staff writer Lisa Applegate contributed to this story.
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Thomas. color.by CNB