Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 5, 1990 TAG: 9004040197
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLOEY
SOURCE: ELAINE VIEL SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Bill Hannah, one of the bachelors, has the handle on the evening. "I'd give anything if a couple of trips down that stage would cure that disease," he said.
And this will indeed be Hannah's second trip to the auction block. Last year he went for about $50.
Narlene Dulaney, who worked on putting together this year's auction, said the event is one of the chapter's major fund-raisers.
The 1989 Bachelor Auction raised $4,200, Dulaney said. This year the chapter is hoping to raise $5,000.
The auction, which will be held at the Blacksburg Holiday Inn, will begin with a social hour at 6:30 p.m. During this hour, Dulaney said prospective bidders will get a chance to meet and talk with the men who will be on the block.
There will be a cash bar and hors d'ourves will be provided by area businesses.
The men range in age from the 20s through the 40s. Some are college professors, like Ed Schwartz; some are lawyers, like Joey Showalter; and some are doctors, like Chris Baldwin.
"In their 20s they're anxious," Dulaney said. "Their 30s [they're] nervous, and in their 40s they start backing away."
Some bachelors volunteer for the auction. Dulaney also had some committee members scout around, and some have even been approached on the street and asked to participate.
Mark Cox of Blacksburg got into the auction in a different way. "A friend of mine said, `Man, why don't you do it?' " So Cox will be there on Friday. "I think it's because I'm crazy," he said.
Each of the bachelors has planned a date to share with the highest bidder.
Cox said he's going to take his date to Alexander's restaurant in Roanoke, then "follow it up with drinks and dancing at the Marriott and then drive home along the [Blue Ridge] Parkway."
Hannah is going to take his date out for "cocktails and dinner at the restaurant of the lady's choice . . . as long as it's not in Jamaica or the Grand Caymans."
Dulaney said that some of the other men have planned such dates as a "flight to Myrtle Beach for a weekend" and a midnight lake cruise. One will include a champagne brunch at the Cascades and dinner at Mountain Lake.
One adventurous bachelor has planned a bi-plane flight and dancing.
Dulaney hopes the event will draw more than the 150 people who attended last year.
The auctioneer this year said will be Warren Radford and Peggy Eaton will be the mistress of ceremonies.
by CNB