ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, December 26, 1996            TAG: 9612260019
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-4  EDITION: METRO 

RALLY 'ROUND A FRIEND

LENGTH: Short :   22 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  ROGER HART/Staff. Muscular dystrophy has long required 
          Virginia State Police dispatcher Mike Smith (left) to use crutches. 
          When Smith's feet recently worsened, he discovered he wasn't alone. 
          His co-workers the the 6th Division Salem barracks, including his 
          supervisor, Capt. Charles Compton (right), rounded up $2,100 for a 
          hand-control set in his van, which will allow him to continue 
          driving. State police executive secretary Debbie Ginger coordinated 
          the two-week fund-raiser. "We're just kind of like a family," said 
          Trooper Eddie Bowen, who helped collect some of the donations. "We 
          take so much for granted. We just wanted to make his life easier."