ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 29, 1996 TAG: 9602290024
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
IN the early 1960s, Charles Hancock led the fight to get full-time fire protection for the Garden City neighborhood in Roanoke. It was the only area within the city that was served by volunteer firefighters.
Armed with a petition signed by 1,075 residents, Hancock took the neighborhood's request to City Council. He told council the area had never been "treated equal" since it was annexed in 1949.
A few years after Hancock made his plea to council, the city built a fire station for the Garden City-Riverdale neighborhood.
As a young teacher, he moved to Garden City with his wife to buy what the couple expected to be a starter home for a few years before they moved up to another neighborhood.
Hancock still lives in the same house on Estates Road, and he's still trying to improve Garden City. He serves on a committee that soon will make recommendations for reducing flooding in the neighborhood.
Hancock, 64, found time to work for the betterment of his community during a career as a teacher, counselor, coach and school administrator.
If that were not enough to keep him busy, he has been a Boy Scout leader and has worked with Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Roanoke Neighborhood Partnership, New Century Council and Greene Memorial United Methodist Church.
Hancock has been named Roanoke's 1995 Citizen of the Year for his years of service as an educator and community activist. City Council chooses the annual recipient.
"Charles has devoted many hours to various community projects and civic activities," Mayor David Bower said.
"He is a firm believer that citizen participation will enhance the quality of life for all persons who choose to call the city of Roanoke home," Bowers said. "That attitude alone makes him an asset to his community."
Hancock never suspected he was being considered for the award. He went to City Council's meeting last week with his wife and several members of the Neighborhood Partnership's steering committee for what he thought was going to be a presentation of the group's annual report to council.
Even after Bowers began reading from prepared remarks about the award, it never occurred to Hancock he would be honored, Hancock said.
He finally realized he had been chosen when Bowers said the person was an educator who had taught at Colonial High School in Botetourt County. Colonial High is where Hancock, fresh out of college, began his career in 1955 as an English and social studies teacher. He also coached both the boys' and girls' basketball teams. His salary was $2,000 a year.
"When the mayor said Colonial High, I looked around to see if there was anyone at council who might have taught there. Almost everyone who was there when I was there is dead," he said.
Hancock taught at Colonial until the school closed in 1959. "I loved it there," he said.
After Colonial closed, Botetourt school officials wanted him to move to James River High School, but he took a job as a seventh-grade teacher at the former West End Elementary School in Roanoke. He liked Botetourt, but the salary in Roanoke was $400 a year higher and the drive to work was much shorter.
Hancock spent 30 years in Roanoke in a succession of teaching, guidance and administrative positions. During his career, he was an assistant principal at Lee Junior High, James Madison Junior High, Lucy Addison High and Jefferson High schools.
Hancock was a dean and guidance counselor at Patrick Henry High for 15 years before taking a buyout and early retirement in 1989.
He has stayed busy since he retired by working part time for the city parks and recreation department and serving as concession worker and ticket-taker at Patrick Henry's ball games. Hancock also has been active in the Roanoke Neighborhood Partnership and Garden City Civic League.
A Roanoke native, Hancock grew up in Wasena. His family has deep roots in the city. His father worked for Norfolk and Western Railway.
Hancock attended Woodrow Wilson Junior High. At Jefferson High, he was a high jumper, broad jumper and runner on the school's relay teams. He played basketball in junior high, but he said the competition was too tough to make Jefferson's team.
He attended Ferrum College and earned a bachelor's degree at Lynchburg College and a master's degree at Virginia Tech.
Hancock said one of the most rewarding aspects of being a teacher is having former students tell you that they remember advice you gave them years ago.
"I've had them tell me that something that I said 15 or 20 years ago was right and it had helped them," Hancock said.
Hancock said he has worked to improve the Garden City neighborhood because he became attached to it.
"Although I grew up in Wasena, I was always fascinated with Garden City," he said. "It's almost like living in the country, but being in the city."
Hancock said some people who grow up in Garden City and leave move back to the neighborhood after they get older.
Bowers said Hancock has a reputation for helping people.
"He has been described as a people-person, a devoted husband of 39 years, a wonderful neighbor and a good friend," Bowers said.
Hancock's wife, Helen, teaches art at Garden City Recreation Center.
For the next year, Hancock's photograph will be displayed on a plaque in the Municipal Building's lobby. The plaque lists the 14 prior winners of the award. Hancock also was given a personalized plaque with his picture and a key to the city in a framed case.
"I'm still shocked and happy about the award," he said. "I just never expected it."
LENGTH: Long : 105 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: LAURA KLEINHENZ. Charles Hancock, a retired Roanokeby CNBeducator, has been named the city's Citizen of the Year for 1995.
Hancock is seated in his living room in front of a painting by his
wife, Helen. color.