
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 3, 1990                   TAG: 9004030704
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: LEXINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

WILDER TO SPEAK AT VMI GRADUATION

Gov. Douglas Wilder will address Virginia Military Institute's departing cadets at their graduation ceremonies May 19.

The governor's remarks will come as the tax-supported school continues to defend its 150-year-old tradition of admitting only men to the corps, a policy the federal government has called illegal and unconstitutional.

The VMI corps was reviewed by Wilder - who, as governor, is commander-in-chief of the 1,300-man corps - at his inaugural parade in January. The last governor to give a VMI commencement address was now-U.S. Sen. Charles Robb in 1982.

An Army veteran, Wilder served in Korea in 1952-53 and was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism in combat. His two-year stint came between receiving a bachelor's degree at Virginia Union University and completing a Howard University law degree.

Wilder also will be Virginia Tech's commencement speaker on May 5.

by CNB