THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 17, 1995 TAG: 9502170537
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM HOLDEN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
Michael J. Barrett, chief executive officer of the Runnymede Corp., was named First Citizen of Virginia Beach on Thursday.
Barrett, who has long been active in community affairs and who has affiliations with dozens of civic groups, said he was honored to win the award, the 45th handed out by the Virginia Beach Jaycees.
``It's a tremendous honor, thank you very much,'' Barrett said to a small group of well-wishers who surprised him at the Thursday morning announcement at the offices of a public relations company.
``There is a long line of tremendously successful people before me. I really appreciate it,'' he said.
In addition to his position with Runnymede, a real estate and development company, Barrett, 48, is a captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve, president of the Hampton Roads Soccer Council and a former assistant city manager for Virginia Beach.
``Mike has the uncanny ability to take on any challenge and formulate strategies for success and, with his incredible energy and dedication, bring the project to a successful conclusion,'' said attorney Andrew Fine, a previous recipient of the award and whose family owns Runnymede.
Barrett, director of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce's executive committee, will be honored for his community service in late March or early April. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH/Staff
Maggie Getzinger, left, visits Michael J. Barrett on Thursday with
the surprise announcement that Barrett had been named the 45th First
Citizen of Virginia Beach. The award is ``a tremendous honor,''
Barrett said.
by CNB