ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, November 28, 1996 TAG: 9611290027
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: MATT CHITTUM STAFF WRITER
Lord Botetourt High School's football coach has been suspended for an undetermined period after his conviction this week for driving 90 mph in his star player's car. He also was driving on a suspended license because of two prior drunken driving convictions.
School Board Chairman Jim Ruhland said Superintendent Robert Reece suspended Andy Ward, who teaches history at the school, this week. The suspension was effective Tuesday morning, board member Michael Beahm said.
Assistant Superintendent Rod Dillman said he could not speak about Ward's case, but said school-system policy allows only a superintendent to suspend a teacher with pay. A suspension lasts at least until an investigation can be completed, Dillman said, at which time the superintendent must decide whether to refer the case to the School Board or drop it.
Reece said he was still investigating the matter, and didn't know how long it would take.
Only the School Board can fire Ward. The board's next meeting is Dec. 12, unless a special meeting is called. If Ward is fired, he can appeal the board's decision, Ruhland said.
Board members and Reece said they had no knowledge of Ward's run-ins with the law until news reports this week.
Ward pleaded guilty Monday to reckless driving and driving with a suspended license, for which he will spend a total of 14 days in jail and pay a small fine. Ward was pulled over on U.S. 460 after he passed through radar at 90 mph in a 55 mph zone.
When the deputy checked the registration of the car, he learned it belonged to Wesley Cox, the talented running back for the Lord Botetourt team.
Cox said he traded cars with Ward so Cox could take the coach's Thunderbird to visit his girlfriend in Charlottesville. Judy Cox said her son is so enamored with the high-performance Pontiac she gave him this year for his 18th birthday that he won't drive it in the rain. He didn't want to put unnecessary mileage on it, either, so he borrowed the coach's car.
Cox said he didn't know the coach had two convictions for driving under the influence and had a restricted license that let him drive only to and from work and to and from his Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program classes.
Ward's troubles with drinking and driving started in Botetourt County when he was pulled over Nov. 24, 1995, and convicted March 25. He also was convicted of DUI in Roanoke Circuit Court this year after being pulled over Feb. 16.
But Ward's problems on the road started before either of those convictions.
Since 1992, Ward has twice been convicted of speeding more than 20 mph over the speed limit, according to documents filed in Botetourt General District Court, once in September 1992 and most recently in March of this year.
He's also been convicted once of speeding 10-19 mph over the limit and had one accident resulting in personal injury, the documents show.
These records indicate at least two DUI convictions, five other tickets and the accident with an injury, all within the past four years.
In 1993, Ward completed two driver improvement courses just six months apart.
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