THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 21, 1995 TAG: 9509180278
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI LEWIS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 105 lines
OLD DOMINION University celebrated its 65th anniversary last Friday by honoring some of its distinguished graduates, along with a longtime community activist.
During its Founder's Day luncheon Sept. 15, which was attended by about 300 people in the university's Webb Center north cafeteria, the university presented its highest honor, the University Medal, to real estate developer George Dragas Jr., and distinguished alumni awards to Marc I. Balmuth, Cecil R. McCullar, Robert D. McKinnon, Dr. W. Patrick Monaghan, Meyera E. Oberndorf, Kenneth A. Samet, and Lewis M. Warren. In addition, Town-N-Gown presented a Community Service Award to Justine I. Nusbaum for 85 years of service to the community.
The luncheon sponsored by the university and the Town-N-Gown, an organization whose mission is to bring the university, the armed forces, and the citizens of Hampton Roads together. Speakers included Norfolk Mayor Paul D. Fraim.
George Dragas Jr., a successful real estate developer, who completed his studies at the university's predecessor, the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary, in 1956 and earned a bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech, was honored with the University Medal in recognition of ``his outstanding support of the university and his ongoing contributions to his community,'' said Old Dominion President James V. Koch.
A former rector of the university Board of Visitors, Dragas and his brother, Marcus, gave ODU $400,000 to renovate a former print shop on campus, which, when completed, will house the Dragas International Center. Dragas, who lives in Virginia Beach, is chief executive officer ot The Dragas Companies and his brother is president of the real estate firm.
Serving on the university board of visitors from 1983 to 1991, Dragas served as rector from 1990 to 1991. He also served on the educational foundation board of trustees.
Accepting the award of behalf of his family, Dragas said that ``the university has done more for me than I have done for the university.''
Monaghan, of Rockville, Md., who received a distinguished alumni award, is a faculty member of the graduate school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and has taught at the Catholic University of America, George Washington University School of Medicine, Bowling Green State University, and the Foundation for the Advancement and Education of Science at National Institutes of Health. After receiving a B.S. degree in medical technology at ODU, he earned a M.S. in immunology, a specialist degree in applied biology, and a doctorate in hematology at Bolling Green State University. While in the Navy, Monaghan was the Blood Bank and Transfusion Service director at the National Naval Medical Center.
Meyera E. Oberndorf, mayor of Virginia Beach since 1988, received a B.S. degree in elementary education from Old Dominion University in 1964. Oberndorf, the first woman elected to a public office in the city of Virginia Beach, began her career in public service when she was appointed to the Virginia Beach Public Library Board in 1966, becoming chairman in 1967. She served three terms on the City Council and was chosen to be vice mayor in 1986. She was elected mayor in 1986 and again in 1992.
Samet, of Bethesda, Md., is executive vice president for operations at Medlantic Healthcare Group and president of the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. He received his B.S. in business administration from ODU in 1968 then went on to earn a master's degree in health services administration from the University of Michigan. Samet was recently appointed to the Old Dominion Board of Visitors.
Warren, a Wall Street investment banker, is a senior vice president with the International Investment Banking firm of S.G. Warburg & Co. Inc. and is head of Warburg's U.S. Media Banking Group, responsible for Media, Publishing and Entertainment companies. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Old Dominion University in 1983 and he also holds a J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Virginia. He is qualified as an attorney in New York and New Jersey.
Balmuth, president of the Caldor Discount Department Store chain since early 1987, joined the Norwalk, Conn., mass merchandiser from the Venture Discount Chain of St. Louis, Mo., where he was executive vice president. Balmuth received his bachelor of arts degree in political science from Old Dominion University in 1970. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Temple Sholom in Greenwich, Conn.
McCullar, who is president and chief executive officer of Charter Federal Savings Bank in Bristol, Va., worked at Virginia National Bank in Norfolk between 1962 and 1984. He attended the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary, from 1956 to 1959, and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. He currently serves on the board of visitors of Emory and Henry College in Emory, Va.
McKinnon, who received his bachelor of science in psychology from Old Dominion University in 1975, has been the director of the NBC ``Today'' Show since 1994. Prior to directing the NBC ``Today'' Show, McKinnon directed ``Good Morning America'' for ABC. His Emmy awards include best director in the talk and service category for ``Good Morning America'' and outstanding director in a special category for ``Good Morning America.'' He was nominated outstanding director of a talk show for ``The Ricki Lake Show.''
Justine L. Nusbaum of Norfolk received the Town-N-Gown's Community Service Award for 85 years of service to the community, including more than 75 years with the Red Cross. Nusbaum, who was born in 1900, founded a chapter of the Needlework Guild in Norfolk when she was 10 years old. Now Justine's Clothes Bank, founded in 1990, provides new clothing, shoes, and household items to homeless children and victims of abuse. She has served on the boards of more than 25 organizations. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by HUY NGUYEN
George Dragas shows his University Medal to his mother, Helen, while
Virginia Rice Webb campares it to her own.
by CNB