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

DATE: TUESDAY, August 10, 1993                   TAG: 9308100616
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Theresa L. Gardner
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

LENNON WOKE THE HOMESTEAD

I ENJOYED your recent article on The Homestead and wanted to add some additional facts that will help complete the story on this great Virginia tradition. My perspective, I believe, is somewhat unique since my father, Thomas J. Lennon, moved his young family to The Homestead in 1952 when he took over the management of the then sleepy, seasonal resort which he led to new heights over the next 35 years. In fact, "sleepy" is too generous a description since when the Lennon family arrived at Hot Springs, the hotel served only two guests during the winter months. And because the two elderly guests were not friendly, two separate floors were heated to accommodate these ladies. Obviously, one of my father's innovations - winter skiing with artificial snow - changed the sleepy winter scene into a winter carnival that helped create so many memories for Virginians during the past few decades.

During the 35 years when my father operated The Homestead, his visionary management and tenacious commitment to quality service turned it into a year-round sporting and gourmet paradise. In fact, for 33 of the 35 years that he served as the hotel's general manager, and then president, The Homestead earned the coveted Five-Star Mobil Award, making it as one of the country's premier resort hotels.

More importantly, under my father's sound leadership, it became the major employment vehicle for many Bath County residents who got a very good lesson in fair and enlightened managemnt. Employees, regardless of race, were promoted for merit. Home mortgages and college tuition loans became available to able, loyal employees from the Bath County Bank, which my father chaired. Shortly after he arrived in Hot Springs, that odious railing for segregated seating in the Hot Springs' movie theater disappeared and, not long after, the high school senior prom was hosted by the hotel in the elegant Homestead Ballroom. Things changed when Lennon arrived in Hot Springs, and they changed long before any federal laws opened the door for economic and social justice that were the core of his enlightened management style.

To my father, every employee was a special human being. They were all treated with dignity, directness and with appropriate management demands, no different from those he required of himself. Thus, on Christmas morning when the pastry chef and kitchen staff necessarily had to be on duty at 6 a.m., my father was also there to greet each employee and to let them know by his actions, as well as by his words, that The Homestead was a team effort. His word was totally trusted by employees and, not surprisingly, no amount of empty promises from the unions nor their transparent gifts - including the endless trucks of free union turkeys at holiday time - could ever persuade the loyal employees to vote against his special and caring form of leadership.

Long retired, my father can be really proud of the days of glory and equality that he brought to The Homestead and his neighbors in Hot Springs. Hopefully, his commitment to a quality hotel, staffed by well-trained and community-spirited employees, will help it regain the luster and vitality that was a hallmark of his 35 years at The Homestead.

\ AUTHOR Theresa Lennon Gardner is Thomas J. Lennon's daughter.

by CNB