THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 26, 1995 TAG: 9510240114
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close-Up
SOURCE: Vicki Lewis
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
The man who served as Norfolk's city manager for 12 years before retiring in 1987 has not stopped serving his community. Julian F. Hirst is just doing it in a different way - as president of the Norfolk Kiwanis Club.
Hirst, who previously was the organization's vice president and president-elect, was installed as its president earlier this month.
Hirst said that after retirement, he was interested in becoming involved in an organization whose goal was community service. The Norfolk Kiwanis seemed a natural choice, he said, because for years he had been speaking to the club at its meetings.
``My first year here, I was invited to give a State of the City address,'' Hirst said. ``And it became an annual event.''
He also was impressed by the organization's work.
``I highly regard their community service efforts and their contributions to charitable organizations,'' he said.
The organization's biggest project is the Harbor Party at Town Point Park. This year's event raised $40,000 for charity. Among the beneficiaries were the Early Childhood Education program at Old Dominion University, the Salvation Army, the Hope House Foundation, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, the Boys & Girls Club, Union Mission and the children's program at Monroe Elementary School.
Name: Julian F. Hirst.
Nickname: None.
What brought you to Norfolk: Joined the Norfolk city government April 15, 1975.
Birthplace: Purcellville, Loudoun County, Va.
Occupation: Retired.
Marital status: Married - 49 years.
Children: Julian Terry, New York City; David, Virginia Beach; and Jane Hirst Green, Plantation, Fla.
Last book read: ``The Way Through The Woods'' by Colin Dexter.
Favorite movie: ``The Last Picture Show.''
Favorite magazine: The Atlantic Monthly, Time.
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? I am on the portion of life's travel where every day is a thank you to God, each smile of a friend is a delight, any relief of an ache is golden and each new or unexpected adventure, big or small, is an exciting prize. There would be little value or gain to now exchange - even a day.
Biggest accomplishment: In personal life and lasting joy - the privilege of our children and grandchildren. In the world of steel and concrete - the Roanoke Civic Center, where, as with Norfolk's Waterside, a city was jump-started.
Most embarrassing moment: I was the invited speaker for a civic organization's annual Christmas gala dinner. Apparently I was favorable as they invited me back the next year. The second occasion came at a very busy work period, no time to think and prepare, so I drew a speech hurriedly from my file of past talks. After the event, I was pained as the evening's audience had been stiffly polite, even cold. The next morning, returning the speech copy to my files, I happened to cross check and, only then, realized I had delivered the exact same material with the exact same jokes to the exact same audience two years in a row. P.S. There was no third year.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? This mind, body and soul has been through heights of happiness, depths of sadness, and ranged far and wide in between. Undoubtedly there's much room for improvement. But, why tamper?
Perfect way to spend the day: With my wife, leisurely driving through the countryside of Ireland or England's Cotswolds and North Country. And, wandering deep into America's starkly beautiful Southwest.
Favorite vacation spot: A high back rocking chair on a front porch in late summer afternoon at Pawleys Island, S.C.
Pet peeve: Elected or appointed public persons who turn public office responsibilities into seeking to build personal benefit power.
First job: At 17, summer job with civil engineering survey party.
Worst job: Teenage summer at my father's business organizing and filing 10 back years of invoices. I worked in a walk-in vault.
Hobbies: Several that someday I'll get to, I hope.
Favorite restaurant: A booth at Colley Avenue Kelley's or O'Sullivans; hot dogs at Ocean View's Doug's; scrapple breakfast at Leesburg, Va., Johnson's.
What do you like most about Norfolk? The people with whom I worked in the city government, Norfolk's medical facilities, Town Point Park.
What do you like least about Norfolk? The flavor of a home town locally owned, operated and enjoyed is sadly fading. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JIM WALKER/The Virginian-Pilot
by CNB