Gov. James S. Gilmore III (R) soon will announce the appointments of U.S. Rep. Thomas J. Bliley Jr. (R-7th) of Richmond, former University Alumni Association director Gordon F. Rainey Jr. and Connecticut businessman Charles Glazer as new members of the University's Board of Visitors, sources close to the governor confirmed yesterday.
Board member William H. Goodwin Jr. was reappointed for another four-year term, while Champ Clark and Henry L. Valentine II were not reappointed.
Albert H. Small, who also will be leaving the Board, was ineligible for reappointment because he already served the two-term limit.
Bliley announced earlier this month that he will retire from Congress in January 2001 after serving for 20 years.
Board Secretary Alexander G. "Sandy" Gilliam said Bliley's congressional experience will benefit the Board.
"Bliley wields an awful lot of clout," Gilliam said.
Bliley is the most prominent of the new appointees, said Larry J. Sabato, government and foreign affairs professor, who also said Bliley's status may prove to be an advantage to the Board and the University.
"His contacts in Congress and generally can be an asset to the University," Sabato said.
University Rector John P. Ackerly III said Bliley has "knowledge of the U.S. government which may help our faculty in obtaining federal research grants."
Bliley, a Georgetown University graduate, will be replacing Champ Clark as the only non-University alumnus on the Board.
Glazer, a Connecticut investment banker, will be the third member of the Board who graduated from the University in 1965, along with Benjamin Warthen and William G. Crutchfield Jr. University President John T. Casteen III also was a member of the University's 1965 graduating class.
Glazer will join Walter P. Walker as the only two non-Virginians on the Board. Walker resides in Seattle, Wash.
Sabato said Glazer is primarily a businessman, but he still is involved in politics and will be an asset to the Board.
Ackerly said Glazer's strong background in money management and investment will make him "an important help to the Finance Committee in establishing policy for [the University's] endowment."
Rainey, former president of the University's Alumni Association, is a Richmond attorney.
Rainey "really knows the alumni constituency," Alumni Association Executive Director Jack Syer said. "He has a lot of skills in terms of finding consensus and bringing people together."
Ackerly said Rainey "will be able to make immediate and special contributions to the University with [his] recent experience" and will serve the community well.
Rainey said he is "grateful for the opportunity" and he hopes to "make a useful contribution" during his time as a member of the Board.
Gilliam said the prominence of the appointees is beneficial. "All these guys are heavy-hitters," he said. "It can only be good for the Board and the University."
Sabato agreed that the appointees will benefit the University.
"These are really class-A appointments," he said. "It's impossible to find fault with any individual."
But he said "it would be nice to have more women and minorities" on the Board.
Warthen said although the new appointees are neither minorities nor women, they still are diverse.
"Diversity comes in the life experiences," he said. "Diversity is not where you have come from, it's where you've been."
Clark said he wishes to be remembered as a hard worker during his time on the Board.
Warthen said Clark, who is seriously ill, is "going to concentrate on nothing but his health with no distractions."
Warthen also said Valentine was an extremely valuable Board member who brought "a very good business sense" to financial dealings.
Valentine said he enjoyed his time on the Board and hopes his contributions are remembered.
Ackerly said the University will sorely miss each of the departing members.
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