Bobby Harrell named First Citizen for 2014
Bobby Harrell '60, Ed.S. '93 and member of the School of Education Development Board has been named the Suffolk and North Suffolk Rotary clubs’ First Citizen for 2014.
Harrell has had a lifetime of service to the community of Suffolk and throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 2013 Harrell was honored for spearheading the Physical Education and Health Building opened by the Salvation Army. That building now bears his name. However, his community service and humanitarianism goes far beyond the Salvation Army. He currently sits on the boards for the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center, Hampton Roads Technology Council , and the Children's Musuem in Portsmouth. He also serves on the Virginia Community College Foundation Board and is currently co-chairing the "Rural Virginia Initiative" with former Lt. Governor Bill Bolling. He has also served on the boards of the Association of Community College Trustees, Hampton Roads Clean Cities Coalition, Bank of America Entrepreneurial Center at ODU, Business Technology Center at the College of William and Mary, Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center at Old Dominion University and more.
In addition, Harrell was co-founder of the Suffolk Ruritan Club, which has donated more than $1.2 million in scholarships and to charities and organizations since its founding. He was also a founding member of the Suffolk Racquet Club and a youth league softball and basketball coach. In the political arena, he served for 14 years in Suffolk as the Democratic Chairman and was the chair of the House of Delegates and Senate District Committees, serving both on the 4th District Committee and State Central Committees.
