George Kostel: A Remembrance
| By Bill Wilson
|
Covington, VA (July 21, 2024) - Former Virginia House of Delegates member and current Covington attorney Bill Wilson sent a note to the Alleghany Journal recently:
"The Attached “Remembrance” regarding the late former House of Delegates member, George J. Kostel, was written by Bill Wilson at the request of the Virginia State Bar."
Here is that document in full:
"George James Kostel, died on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at his home. He was 95 years old. The first son of the late James George Kostel and Mary Julius Kostel, George was born in Clifton Forge, Virginia, on October 30, 1927. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his beloved brothers, Pete Kostel and Harry Kostel.
"George was survived by his wife of 60 years, Helen Elite Kostel; and by his daughter, Mary Kostel, son-in-law Gregory DiMeglio, grandsons Alexander and Philip DiMeglio; daughter Elizabeth Kostel, granddaughter Natalie Barnette; son David Kostel, daughter-in-law Sandra Santos Kostel, grandchildren Marcus, Mila, and Lucas Kostel. He was also survived by sisters-in-law Margaret Kostel and Laura Kostel, by a brother-in-law Anthony Elite and by cousins, nephews, and nieces living in the United States and Athens, Greece.
When I came to Covington in 1963, one of the first lawyers I was pleased to meet was George J. Kostel. He looked like a movie star and was a darn good lawyer. Up until his retirement from the practice of law, we practiced in the same community, rarely on opposite sides of a case. He was in the Virginia House of Delegates for ten years (1963 - 1973), during which time, he was a steady, thoughtful, and effective member of that body. He was one of those rare people who never lost his cool. In all of his trials which I observed, I never saw George lose his temper, and his demeanor was gentlemanly, civil, and professional. He was always well-prepared and usually won his case.
Although he has never gotten all the credit which he deserves, in 1966, George teamed up with my former partner, Senator Hale Collins, along with others, and created our Virginia Community College System. Today, in Alleghany County, we have Mountain Gateway Community College (formerly Dabney S. Lancaster Community College), which would not be here if it were not for George. If I have anything do with it, we will name a building for him at the Community College or do something else as worthy recognition of George’s efforts. Dr. John J. Rainone, current President of Mountain Gateway Community College, said of George: “George Kostel was a community leader and a friend to Mountain Gateway Community College. As one of the founders of the Virginia Community Colleges he saw the need for education and workforce development for the state’s citizens and local businesses. I was honored to know him even for a little while, but his impact on this college, our community, and the Commonwealth will be long-lasting.”
Over the years, George, and his wife, Helen, have made many contributions to our community. It has been my pleasure to serve with Helen on the Community College Foundation Board for many years. As I was preparing this Remembrance, I called Helen and asked for some personal thoughts about her late husband. She graciously agreed and offered the following:
“I can tell you that our lives were filled with love and laughter. When he was in his nineties, and would hear the sounds of Jazz, he would tap the floor with his feet and hum the tune -- way off key –- and wish that one day he would carry the tune, on key! George could tell hilarious jokes and later relish the laughter they evoked. He loved Alleghany County and its people and loved serving in the House of Delegates. He curtailed his political aspirations because he had a bank to run and a hospital to build. He was the love of my life.”
"George was a true native of Alleghany County and Clifton Forge. His early education began by attending Moody Elementary School, Clifton Forge High School, and Fork Union Military Academy, followed by four years at Hampden-Sydney College, where upon graduation, he received the coveted Gammon Cup for Character, Scholarship, and Athletic Ability. In 1951, he received a Juris Doctor Degree from the Washington and Lee University School of Law, followed by two years of active duty as a Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, serving in the JAG Corps. Discharged in 1953, he returned to Clifton Forge and began as a sole practitioner of the law. On January 1, 1964, he formed a law partnership with Roscoe B. Stephenson, Jr., of Covington, Virginia, who later became a member of the Supreme Court of Virginia. One year later, they joined with the firm of Watson and Carson. They were joined later by James D. Snyder in 1965 and Roscoe B. Stephenson III in 1981. Dabney Pasco also became a partner. In addition to his legal career, George was active in state politics and in November 1963 was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. He served until 1973. There, he was co-sponsor of the bill establishing the Community College System in Virginia. He was appointed to the State Board of Community Colleges by Governor Charles Robb in 1983 and was elected by the State Board as its chairman in 1985.
"In 1976, George was selected as chairman of a joint committee of directors from two area hospitals, Alleghany Memorial and Emmett Memorial, to study health care needs in the Alleghany Highlands, resulting in the creation of Alleghany Regional Hospital. He served as the first President of the Board of Directors and held that position through the financing and construction phases, and during its early years of operation. When the hospital was later sold to Columbia/HCA, George was instrumental in the formation of the Alleghany Foundation, which was funded by the sale proceeds and which serves the needs of the greater Alleghany area to this day. The Foundation’s focus areas are: Economic Transformation, Community Capacity, Health and Wellness, Leadership and Civic Vitality, and Educational Attainment.
"George also had a long association with the First National Bank of Clifton Forge. In 1968, George began serving as Board Chair of the bank and, upon retiring from the practice of law in 1997, he also became President. As Chairman and President, of the bank, George oversaw the sale of the bank.
"George was a lifelong member of St. Andrews’s Episcopal Church in Clifton Forge, enrolling as a choirboy in 1937 and retiring as a vestryman in 2019. He was among a small group of church leaders who together with the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia won a court battle over local church property.
"Throughout his life, George was an astute observer of American Politics; was an avid University of Virginia sports fan; and loved to exercise outdoors. However, George’s greatest pleasure was to spend time with his beloved wife, Helen, and to follow the academic and athletic activities of his children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. In his lifetime, George understood and demonstrated the importance of ethical behavior, wellness and resilience in the profession of law, in family and community life and service, in looking out for others, and in sound business principles.
"I have known many fine lawyers in my time, and George Kostel was one of the finest. He helped many people, and I am thankful for his wisdom and foresight."
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