THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 5, 1995 TAG: 9510030079
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: THUMBS UP
SOURCE: BY VICKI LEWIS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
A MAN WHO served the city of Norfolk in many capacities for more than 60 years was honored last week by members of the Retail Merchants Association.
Harry B. Price Jr., who has been called a ``retailing innovator and civic fund-raiser extraordinaire,'' was feted at a luncheon Sept. 27 at the Holiday Inn on Newtown Road.
More than 70 people, including local politicians and business leaders, attended the luncheon where they heard Councilman G. Conoly Phillips read a proclamation, on behalf of Norfolk Mayor Paul D. Fraim, citing Price as ``a man who shall serve as a model to future generations as being worthy of emulation.''
Price, 84, is the retired chairman of Price's Inc., a major appliance dealership that was headquartered in Norfolk before being sold in 1988. He now lives in Williamsburg.
He had taken over the family business in 1939 after the death of his father, Harry B. Price, who founded the business in 1905 as a hardware store. Under Price Jr.'s guidance and leadership, the operation grew to a six-store operation, known for its customer service.
At the same time Price was nurturing his business, he also was helping the city of Norfolk grow.
A Norfolk native, Price was instrumental in the development of the Eastern Virginia Medical School and served as commissioner of the Eastern Virginia Medical Authority.
For more than 35 years, he served as a member of the board of directors of The Planning Council, a Hampton Roads social welfare agency. He has been president of many organizations and has been active in fund-raising for numerous area institutions, such as the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, the United Way, the Central YMCA. Among the boards he has served on are the trustees of Leigh Memorial (now Sentara Leigh) Hospital and Norfolk Academy.
Price's connection with the Retail Merchants Association goes back to the 1920s when his father was president and to the 1950s when he served the association in that same capacity. He still serves as a member of the board.
``He's had a tremendous influence on the community,'' said Bob Peck, the chief executive officer of the Norfolk Retail Merchants Association.
Price, himself, is modest about his accomplishments, saying that he always received personal fulfilment from his endeavors.
``It's the gratification you get from doing it,'' he said.
Others have seen to it that Price has gotten the recognition that he deserves. In 1991, Price received the United Way's highest honor, the Alexis de Tocqueville Society Award, which recognizes distinguished and community commitment, for his 60 years of service to the United Way. In 1987, he received the National Conference of Christian and Jews Brotherhood Award.
He also was named First Citizen of Norfolk by the Cosmopolitan Club of Norfolk in 1965.
Born in Norfolk in 1911, Price graduated from Maury High School and attended the University of Virginia before entering business. He started working for the family business in 1930 and became president in 1939. When he became chairman in 1974, his son Harry B. Price III took over the presidency. MEMO: If you know someone whom you feel is deserving of a Thumbs Up! feature,
call Vicki Lewis at 446-2286.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Harry B. Price Jr. has been cited as ``a model to future generations
as being worthy of emulation.''
KEYWORDS: PROFILE by CNB