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

DATE: THURSDAY, October 19, 1995                   TAG: 9510190060
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAN CASEY
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

COUNCILMAN JOINS CENTER STAFF

The Hotel Roanoke Conference Center Commission's newest member probably has more experience in hotel operations than five other members of the panel combined.

Roanoke City Council on Monday appointed City Council member William White to the commission, filling a vacancy created when the panel's chairman stepped down in May.

An accountant, White has 10 years' experience in the hotel business. Between age 12 and 22, he worked as a bellhop at a resort hotel in Hot Springs, Ark. Among other things, that job put him through four years of college, he said.

"I really wanted this," White said. "We have a major investment in the hotel. It should help with all the economic development things we're doing downtown and in Gainsboro."

The six-member board, made of up of Roanoke city government and Virginia Tech officials, was responsible for overseeing construction of the $13 million conference center adjacent to Hotel Roanoke, which opened in April.

The board now monitors operations at the facility, which was funded through bonds guaranteed by city taxpayers.

White replaces former chairman Jimmy Harvey. Harvey, a former city councilman who stepped down in May.

by CNB