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

DATE: TUESDAY, August 16, 1994                   TAG: 9408160091
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Todd Jackson Staff Writer
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PROFESSORSHIP NAMED FOR ROANOKE COUPLE

Ferrum College's first endowed professorship will be named in honor of Roanoke businessman and philanthropist Forrest S. Williams and his late wife, Jean, the school announced this month.

Williams made a leadership gift to establish the Forrest S. and Jean B. Williams Endowed Professorship in the Humanities - a program the college will use to bring distinguished teachers and scholars to the campus to live in residence.

The amount of Williams' gift was not disclosed on his request, said Tom Rickard, a spokeman for the college.

"Needless to say, it was substantial," Rickard said of the gift.

An initial endowment of $800,000 will establish the professorship. In addition to Williams' gift, other support for the program includes a $200,000 challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and other contributions from Ferrum friends and alumni.

The challenge grant must be matched by $600,000 in gifts by mid-1995. To date, the college has raised $550,000.

Rickard said the school hopes to begin the professorship during the 1995-96 academic year.

Williams, a Henry County native, is the former owner of Williams Supply in Roanoke, a company he founded in 1946.

In 1985, the college recognized Williams with its highest honor: the honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities. Williams served as a trustee of the college from 1965 to 1972 and was named a Trustee Emeritus in 1980. In 1974, he and his wife established a scholarship fund to help needy and deserving students obtain an education at Ferrum.

|- TODD JACKSON

by CNB