F. Staley Hester
Staley Hester is not one to make snap decisions and this characteristic, together with an inquiring mind, has made him an astute and successful businessman.
Staley graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in 1960, but not before leaving his mark in scholastic achievement. He was vice president, Senior Class; member, Monogram Club; president, Hy-Y; and a member of the track and cross-country teams.
He entered Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the fall of 1960 and received a B.S. degree in accounting in 1964. Next, he did a 2-year tour of duty in the army that included service in the Dominican Republic Conflict of 1965. Then came an assignment to the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center followed by a discharge from active service as a first lieutenant. However, Staley elected to transfer to an active reserve status and, for the next 3 years, was with the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Salem.
With the passing of his father, Frank S. Hester, Sr., while Staley was a student at Tech, it became necessary for him to assume an active role in several businesses. In due course he became president, treasurer and a board member of Sherwood Memorial Park and, president of Hester Coal and Oil Corporation. Under his guidance, over the years, substantial improvement has been made in the operation of both enterprises as well as other businesses in which he has an interest.
Staley has also been very active in community service. He was a board member and president of the Salem/Roanoke county Chamber of Commerce; director of the Salem Christmas Parade (15years); member, Salem Jaycees; member, United Way Presidents Circle; and past treasurer, secretary, vice president and president of the Salem Sports Foundation. He currently serves on the NCAA Stagg Bowl committee; board member and treasurer, Lewis-Gale Foundation; member, Salem Rescue Squad-Business Advisory Committee and is a trustee of the First United Methodist Church, where he has served in a number of other capacities including chairman of the Administrative Board. Additionally, he is a Lifetime Member of the Golden Hokie Club and a member of the Virginia Tech Ut Prosim Society.
Staley’s benevolence far exceeds that which he will talk about. However, it is known that he has been a major contributor to his church and has established scholarship endowments at Virginia Tech., The Salem Educational Foundation and the Lewis-Gale Foundation.
Staley’s contribution of time, energy and financial participation has, however, not gone unnoticed. He has been the recipient of the Good Citizen Award of the Salem/Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce; the Salem Rotary Club Outstanding Citizen Award; the Roanoke Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellowship and the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Club Membership.
In further recognition of his outstanding career achievements, in 1996 Frank Staley Hester, Jr., was among charter members inducted into the Salem Alumni Hall of Fame established by the Salem Educational Foundation and the Alumni Association.
