Eddie Graham (right), an educator in the Alleghany HIghlands for almost 50 years, was named the recipient of the prestigious Medallion of Merit Award by Dabney S. Lancaster Community College President Dr. John Rainone. The award, which was reinstated by the DSLCC Local Board after a hiatus of nine years, was established in 1979 and presented to a community member within the DSLCC service area who has made a significant contribution to the betterment of life in the world, nation, Commonwealth of Virginia, region, or DSLCC’s service area. After he retired as superintendent of the Covington City Public School System ten years ago, he became director of the Jackson River Governor’s School, a position he still holds.

Graham Selected for DSLCC Medallion of Merit Award   Clifton Forge, VA (Aug. 15 2019) - William Edward “Eddie” Graham, a well-known educator in the Alleghany Highlands since coming to the area in 1971, has been named the 2019 recipient of the prestigious Medallion of Merit Award by the Dabney S. Lancaster Community College’s Local Board. Graham is starting his 50th year in education. The Medallion of Merit was established in 1979 to recognize individuals or organizations who have made a significant contribution to the betterment of life to the world, nation, Commonwealth, region, or DSLCC’s service area. The DSLCC Local Board voted to reinstitute the Medallion of Merit this year; the last time it was awarded was in 2012. The award was presented to Graham during a ceremony August 13 on the DSLCC Clifton Forge campus by DSLCC President Dr. John Rainone. Dr. Rainone noted that in the submitted nomination, it was pointed out that Graham has “dedicated his life and 48 of his 49 years in education to the children of the Alleghany Highlands.” During his career, and even after retiring as superintendent of the Covington school system and then accepting the position as director of the Jackson River Governor’s School, Graham has continued to help, encourage, develop and motivate the area’s young people “to be the best that they can be.” Also in attendance were several previous recipients of the Medallion award: George and Helen Kostel, Sara Lu Snyder, G. Otis Mead, Helen Jean Fitzgerald, William T. Wilson and Charlotte Martin. In his acceptance remarks, Graham said he felt that being selected for the award was quite an honor. “To be recognized by a community you love, colleagues and friends you love so much, and family, who are the reason I’m standing here today, is a wonderful experience.” He said that he was fortunate to have had a career in a field that he truly loves. For the last ten years Graham has served as director of the Jackson River Governor’s School, housed at DSLCC. Prior to that, he was the Superintendent of Covington City Public Schools, and was director and assistant director at the Jackson River Technical Center. Before moving to JRTC, he taught drafting, electricity and woodworking at Clifton Forge High School for ten years. A native of West Virginia, he taught first grade in Clay County, WV, for a year and was also employed at Union Carbide Corporation before starting his career in education. He attended West Virginia Tech, University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. Graham has served on a number of local agencies and organizations: the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce, as president and as a member of the Board of Directors; Greater Alleghany United Fund Board of Directors; Alleghany Highlands Community Services Board of Directors; Alleghany Highlands YMCA Board of Directors; DSLCC Local Board; DSLCC Educational Foundation Board of Directors; Alleghany Highlands Housing Alliance Board of Directors; and the Clifton Forge Redevelopment & Housing Authority. He and his wife, Brenda, who is a Diabetes Educator at LewisGale Hospital Alleghany, have two daughters, Rebecca Smith, a chemical engineer at Quali-Chem, Inc., and Emily Mays, a veterinarian who owns and operates the Highlands Veterinary Clinic. The Grahams are the grandparents of four grandchildren, all students: Bailee Leitch, Virginia Tech; Bryce Leitch, Clifton Middle School; Baron Leitch, Alleghany High School; and Dallas Kimberlin, JRTC pre-school. Other past recipients of the Medallion of Merit Award have included Senator Buzz Emick of Fincastle, Elizabeth Scott of Clifton Forge, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Stumpp of Covington, Mrs. Christine Herter Kendall of Bath County, the City of Lexington, Norman C. Scott of Clifton Forge, Dr. Mary A. Thayer of Botetourt County, Lily M. Albert of Covington, Dr. James C. Bradford of Buena Vista, Wilford P. Ramsey of Buena Vista, Adelaide (Bari) Ballou of Clifton Forge, Bernice Ford of Clifton Forge, G.C. Thompson, Jr. of Botetourt County, Hugh S. Gwin of Bath County, Mr. DeWitt S. Worrell of Lexington (posthumously), George R. Goode, Sr. of Clifton Forge, Kathryn C. Buhrman of Botetourt County, Harry A. Walton, Jr. of Alleghany County, Nadine Paxton Rankin of Botetourt County, Donnie Wheatley of Alleghany County, Ruth Middleton of Covington, Jack A. Hammond of Alleghany County, Harold F. Kidd of Buena Vista, Betty Carpenter of Covington, Linda Law Krantz of Rockbridge County, Joseph H. Carpenter, III of Alleghany County, and Irma Blake Thompson of Buena Vista. Dabney S. Lancaster Community College’s Medallion of Merit Award recipient Eddie Graham of Clifton Forge poses with his family, from left: Rebecca Smith (daughter); Bailee Leitch (granddaughter); Graham and his wife, Brenda; Emily Mays (daughter) and Bryce Leitch and Baron Leitch (grandchildren). Not pictured: granddaughter Dallas Kimberlin. The family attended the Medallion of Merit award ceremony August 13 on the DSLCC Clifton Forge campus. The Medallion of Merit Award, presented to a community member within the service area of Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, has been reinstated by the DSLCC Local Board and Eddie Graham of Clifton Forge, an educator in the Alleghany Highlands for almost 50 years, was selected as the 2019 recipient. Several past Medallion recipients were also in attendance at the award ceremony, held August 13 on the DSLCC Clifton Forge campus. From left: DSLCC President Dr. John Rainone, Graham, Sara Lu Snyder of Alleghany County (1983), Helen Jean Fitzgerald of Covington (1986), Charlotte Martin of Covington (2007), G. Otis Mead of Lexington (1985), and Bill Wilson (1988), Helen Kostel (2001) and George Kostel (1989), all of Alleghany County.

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