Here’s a roundup of news briefs from around Southwest and Southside. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org.
Heywood Fralin named Roanoke citizen of the year
Roanoke philanthropist and businessman Heywood Fralin has been named Roanoke’s citizen of the year.
The honor was announced during Monday night’s city council meeting, when Fralin was presented with a key to the city.
Fralin, a lifelong Roanoke resident, has dedicated his life to supporting higher education and business in the state and “played a pivotal role in advancing medical research and innovation” in Virginia, Mayor Sherman Lea said in the commendation.
“Our 2024 honoree is very community-oriented,” Lea said. “The honoree demonstrates a commitment to this city and its economic growth through an active engagement and philanthropy.”
The Fralin family, with donations from Heywood Fralin and his wife, Cynthia, and a family trust, gave $50 million in 2018 to support the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at the Virginia Tech Carilion Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke.
“I’m not sure that any one individual deserves such an honor,” Fralin said, “but I’m very appreciative, and I’m very proud of this region.”
Among Fralin’s other Roanoke philanthropic efforts, he has been a supporter of Roanoke’s Taubman Museum of Art and served as its vice chair. In 2021, he established an endowment fund to support educational programs and wildlife preservation at Mill Mountain Zoo in Roanoke.
“Without you, we wouldn’t be an eight-time All-America city,” Vivian Sanchez-Jones said to Fralin.
Fralin graduated from the University of Virginia, and later from American University with a law degree. He’s chairman of Retirement Unlimited, which owns and operates 19 senior independent living, assisted living and memory care communities in Virginia and Florida.
He has served on multiple boards and councils, including the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech boards of visitors, the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, the Governor’s Commission on Higher Education Reform Innovation and Investment, the Virginia Western Community College Foundation, the Virginia Historical Society, the Roanoke Valley Business Council and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
His philanthropy has extended to other parts of the state. In 2012, the Fralins donated their collection of American art to the University of Virginia, which renamed its museum the Fralin Museum of Art.
— Samantha Verrelli
Youngkin announces board appointments
Gov. Glenn Youngkin has announced additional state board appointments, including these residents of Southwest and Southside:
Sheep Industry Board: Lee Wright of Glade Spring, sheep producer; superintendent, Virginia Tech Southwest Agricultural Research Center.
State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board: Walter Bailey of Charlotte County, vice chair, Charlotte County Board of Supervisors; chief, Phenix Volunteer Fire Department; president, Virginia State Firefighters Association.
Virginia Interagency Coordinating Council: Jill Yates of Grundy, coordinator of infant intervention, ITC Cumberland Mountain.
Free drive-thru flu vaccine clinic scheduled for Chatham
The Pittsylvania-Danville Health District will offer a free seasonal flu vaccine clinic from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 27 at the Pittsylvania County Health Department, 200 HC McGhee Drive in Chatham.
The drive-thru event will offer flu vaccinations for anyone age 3 and older. A limited supply will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. A parent or legal guardian must accompany anyone younger than 18.
For more information about the flu vaccination event, call 434-766-9887 or visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/influenza-flu-in-virginia/.
