? , YMCA Photos by David Reavis
Curt Hazelbaker praises the work of Bill White Jr. Q
Central Y named for volunteer
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE
Though the skies outside
the mammoth windows of
the Central YMCA were
drab and gray Monday
morning, the atmosphere
inside was anything but dull.
The dedication of the
Central Y was indeed a joy
ous occasion. Brightly col
ored balloons dotted the
room, and children darted
about laughing.
The guest of honor,
William "Bill" White Jr., has
seen many similar celebra
tions in his more than six
decades of coming to the Y,
but this ceremony had spe
cial significance for the
longtime volunteer: the
facility was being named for
him. i
"Your commitment has
been so deep, so intentional
... it's fitting that we recog
nize you and future genera
tions have you to look up
to," remarked Sue
Henderson, chief volunteer
officer for the YMCA of
? Northwest North Carolina
(NWNC).
The William G. White Jr.
Family YMCA, as the
Central Y is now called, has
been heavily influenced by
White, even in its inception,
as Richard Budd. honorary
chair of the 2009 Capital
Campaign, pointed out.
"He was a part of the
campaign when we built this
Y in 1974," Budd told the
audience. "He's been a
longtime friend of the CEOs
and executives ... mentoring
them on good business prac
tices."
White's affiliation
extends far beyond typical
volunteerism. He has served
as a YMCA of NWNC board
member; a Heritage Club
member, and has chaired*the
Board of Trustees since
1998. In 2002, he was the
first inductee into the presti
gious Red Triangle Society,
which honors dedicated vol
unteers for their service to
the YMCA of Greater
Winston-Salem; and belongs
to the Honorary Cabinet for
the Y's 2009 Capital
Campaign.
Additionally, White, a
former executive at
Winston-Salem-based First
Federal Bank, has been
actively involved with the Y
on national and international
levels. He is credited with
helping to establish a YMCA
in the Ukraine after the fall
of the Soviet Union in the
1990s. There are currently
over 20 YMCAs in the
region because of White's
efforts, Budd reported.
White used his business
savvy to bolster the reach of
the Y and helped the organi
zation find secure footing in
its lean years, he added.
"Recognizing someone
as special as Bill is an
honor," said YMCA NWNC
President and CEO Curt
Hazelbaker, wfio unveiled a
plaque denoting the occa
sion. "The Y could not have
had the impact we have had
William "Bill" White Jr. has
worn many hats in the
YMCA organization.
without Bill White."
Bill Simpson, chairman
of RMIC (Republic
Mortgage Investment
Company) credits White
with helping him and his
partners to form RMI?,
which now boasts more than
300 employees and over $2
billion in assets. The two
have become good friends
over the years, traveling to
Argentina on hunting trips
and sitting together in count
less board meetings,
Simpson said.
"Bill's a real astute busi
nessman," he remarked.
"(His) business acumen is
well documented in the
financial market."
White, 79, was humbled,
almost apologetic, at the
honor.
"It's kind of embarrass
ing," he confided. "1 never
expected to receive anything
(in my honor); I did it
because I wanted to."
Over the course of more
than 60 years. White has
seen many changes come to
the Y, and he says he's
enjoyed "watching it grow
and prosper" more than just
about anything.
"I really don't know
what to say; I've had a lot of
help doing this and I'm
looking at many of them
right now," he declared in
addressing the audience. "I
know that the Y's best days
are still ahead of it and I
thank you for what you do
and will be doing."
News
Clips
Ambassador to discusses
current developments
Greensboro College and
the Triad World Affairs
Council will host
Ambassador Vasil
Sikhamlidze who will share
his thoughts on the current
state of affairs in Georgia, a
nation in the former Soviet
Union.
Sikharulidze will give a
lecture Dec. 8 titled "Current
Developments in Georgia" at
the O. Henry Hotel, 624
Green Valley Road. The
evening begins with a recep
tion at 6 p.m. The presenta
tion will start at 6:30 p.m.,
followed by a brief question
and answer session.
Reservations for the pres
entation are $15 for members
of the Triad World Affairs
Council and $25 for non
members For more informa
tion or to reserve seating,
contact Claudia Davis at 336
272-7102. ext. 221.
Glenn alumnus graduates
from Air Force training
Air Force Airman 1st
Class Huston D. Stewart has
graduated from basic military
training at Lackland Air
Force Base, San Antonio,
Texas.
During the six weeks of
training, the airman studied
the Air
Force mis
s i o n ,
organiza
tion, core
values, and
military
customs
and courte
sies; per
formed
drill and
Stewart
ceremony marches, and
received physical training,
rifle marksmanship, field
training exercises, and spe
cial training in human rela
tions.
In addition, airmen who
complete basic training earn
credits toward an associate in
applied science degree relat
ing through the Community
College of the Air Force.
Stewart is the son of Trina
Stewart of Winston-Salem. In
2008, the airman graduated
from Robert B. Glenn High
School.
"Booze It & Lose It" starts
Gov. Mike Easley
announced last week that
state and local law enforce
ment officers will be out in
force over the next month as
part of a "Booze It & Lose It"
campaign to remove
impaired drivers from the
state's roads this holiday sea
son. Checkpoints and
stepped-up patrols will be
conducted across the state
Dec. 1 through Jan. 4, 2009.
Alcohol-related traffic
crashes are likely to occur
when more motorists are on
the road traveling to and from
holiday parties. Between
Dec. 1, 2007 and Jan. 4,
2008, 165 North Carolina
motorists were involved in
fatal traffic crashes, with 49
alcohol-related fatalities.
PETS MADE EASY.
GOVERNMENT MADE EASY
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