DATE: Friday, August 8, 1997                TAG: 9708080632

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

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MILESTONES

NORFOLK

Karen Gearreald, of Norfolk, has been named an outstanding alumna of Agnes Scott College for her distinguished career.

While a student at Agnes Scott, in Decatur, Ga., in the mid-'60s, Gerreald, the first blind student at the college, succeeded in her academics and went on to succeed in life.

While in college, she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was honored as a Stukes Scholar for having the highest grade-point average.

After college, Gerreald earned a master's degree in English literature from Harvard in 1967, a doctorate in English linguistics and literature from Harvard in 1969 and a juris doctorate from Duke Law School in 1976.

For 20 years, Gearreald served as a Navy civil service lawyer, specializing in government contracts. She retired in August.

Today, she is a full-time teacher for 200 students of the Hadley School for the Blind in Winnetka, Ill. Through computer technology, she teaches 10 courses: business law, music appreciation, speech, Braille reading, two Latin courses and four Bible courses. She has been a part-time instructor there since 1988.

PORTSMOUTH

Two well-known Portsmouth brothers were selected as National Humanitarians by the National Association of Letter Carriers.

Joseph and Cephas Wright, both retired letter carriers, will be honored Sept. 17 at an awards reception at the NALC headquarters building in Washington.

The National Humanitarian Award is based on outstanding acts of community service, performed over a period of time.

The award is usually given to one person, selected by three independent judges from among those people featured during the year in the association's monthly magazine.

The story, headlined ``Years of Carrying the Mail Heightened Their Sense of Commitment to the Community,'' detailed the Wright brothers' continued efforts in crime-fighting in their neighborhoods.

Joseph Wright was president of one of Portsmouth's largest and most successful citizen crime patrols for several years. He is still an active member of the patrol which watches over Cavalier Manor and surrounding neighborhoods.

Three years ago he received the Portsmouth Bar Association's Liberty Bell Award for his public service and both Cephas and a third brother, Eugene, received honorable mention.

Cephas Wright, a former president of the area chapter of NALC, is a member of the Tri-Neighborhood Patrol, which covers Brighton, Prentis Park and Lee Ward.

Both men are also part of a group of retirees who regularly attend court hearings to watch out for criminals that have been arrested in their neighborhoods.

VIRGINIA BEACH

James L. LaShure has been named department commander for Virginia Beach Post 110 of the American Legion.

LaShure, who joined the Legion with the formation of Post 110 in 1985, has held various elected and appointed offices and committee assignments at the post, district, department and national levels.

Locally he has been chaplain, service officer, vice commander and commander.

At the district level, he served as a member of the special events committee, as Americanism chairman, oratorical chairman, legislative chairman, vice commander and commander.

At the department level, he served as a member of the conference and convention committee and the credentials committee. LaShure also served as chairman of the Eastern Zone Membership, New Post Committee and as chairman of the Flag Promotion and Protection Sub-Committee.

He is a past president of the Hampton Roads Council of Veterans Organizations and serves as chairman of the Virginia Beach Mayor's Veterans Committee.

A total Legion family, LaShure's wife, Jeanne, is president of Unit 110 and all five daughters are charter members of Unit 110.

LaShure, who attended the University of Indiana, has also been awarded an honorary life membership by Post 110. He enlisted in the Navy in 1959 and was honorably discharged in 1963 as a petty officer second class. ILLUSTRATION: Photos

Karen Gearreald

Joseph Wright

Cephus Wright

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