THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 14, 1996 TAG: 9603120122
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KATHRYN DARLING, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
AT A TIME when most people would slow down and enjoy their success, 73-year-old Harold C.``Hap'' Hoy is in full force, investing in Norfolk's future.
Hoy, a Norfolk businessman who recently was named Norfolk's First Citizen for 1995, has supported many non-profit organizations, but he says his weakness is an organization involving children.
``We as adults need to do as much as we can to support the children, to keep them on the right track,'' Hoy said. ``They are our asset for the future, and we shouldn't throw that away.''
Hoy, president of Hoy Construction, lives by what he says. He is in his second term as president of the Tidewater Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and he is director of the board of Junior Achievement of Hampton Roads and directs the executive committee of CANDII, the Children's AIDS Network Designed for Interfaith Involvement. He is a past director of the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund, and he headed construction of Kids Cove at Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach.
The First Citizen award is presented by the Cosmopolitan Club of Norfolk, and the winner is chosen by a committee of community leaders. Usually, the First Citizen, who is given the Distinguished Service Award medal, is chosen for his or her community involvement during the previous year.
Hoy, however, was selected for 1995 because of ``his long-term dedication to the community,'' said C. Gerald Harris, the selection committee chairman.
He won the award ``primarily because of his unselfish service in the community. He has contributed to youth, the arts, education and the church,'' Harris said.
Hoy currently serves on the board of First Virginia Bank of Tidewater and the State Advisory Board of Liberty and Mutual Insurance Co. He is a former board member of the Virginia Symphony and the Virginia Beach Rescue Squad Foundation. He also has served on numerous other boards.
A resident of Norfolk in the Wards Corner area of Norfolk for more than 25 years, Hoy and his wife, Nancy, now live in Birdneck Point in Virginia Beach.
Hoy has been in the construction business in Norfolk for 50 years. His company has built more than 300 church-related facilities and a number of downtown Norfolk buildings, including the Cruise International building that was sold recently.
A World War II pilot, Hoy said he was recalled during the Korean conflict and flew photo reconnaissance. He retired from the Air Force reserves in 1972 after 30 years of service.
Hoy said in the early years of his life that he wasn't as active in volunteer work because he was busy developing his business. Now Hoy, who says he has no plans to retire, has the time to do volunteer work.
Hoy attributes his success in business to his upbringing and the Christian grounding given to him by his mother and father who raised him on a farm near Boones Mill, south of Roanoke.
``Growing up on a farm taught me as much as anything,'' he said.
His upbringing required ``discipline. Nothing comes from nothing. You have to work for what you want.''
He said the motivation to be so involved in the community is an attempt to return a blessing.
``The community has been so good to me,'' he said. ``Volunteer work is one way I can serve a small portion of the community that has given me so much.''
Norfolk's 1994 First Citizen was Thomas H. Willcox Jr. Other past winners of the award include Hunter A. Hogan, Joshua P. Darden, Dorothy M. Doumar, Toy D. Savage, Justine L. Nusbaum, Dr. Mason C. Andrews, Frank Batten, J. Pretlow Darden, Barron Foster Black, Henry Clay Hofheimer and Colgate W. Darden Jr.
``To be on the list of people who have been given the award is humbling,'' Hoy said. MEMO: If you know someone whom you feel is deserving of a Thumbs Up! feature,
call Kathryn Darling at 446-2286. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by VICKI CRONIS
Harold C. ``Hap'' Hoy is in his second term as president of the
Tidewater Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
by CNB