Francis T. West
To think that Francis T. West, an Andrew Lewis High School graduate (1937), who attended Roanoke College but holds no degree, could take this limited schooling and through native intelligence, keen business acumen, perseverance and dedication parlay it into a full life of rich rewards, responsibilities, honors, and in 1994 an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Roanoke College is, as today’s kids would say: “Awesome, man, Awesome!”
West had previously attended Chesapeake School in Gloucester, Virginia, but graduated from high school in Salem where he played football for three years; participated in intramural boxing; took part in the senior play and was a member of the Monogram Club. Four years thereafter, his mother, Bently Wysor West, died, in January of 1941, and in 1964 his father, Thomas Fendal West, also passed away. His wife is Kathleen J. West. His children are Suzanne West Guy, Nina West Guy, Francis T. West, hr., and Wysor West Gearhart. The West’s residence is Westpoint-Penhook, Virginia. Francis is a member, former lay leader, and former vestryman of Christ Episcopal Church and has held various Episcopal and Anglican church appointments.
Besides the honorary degree mentioned previously, Francis T. West in 2986 received the Roanoke College Medal for Distinguished Service & Professional Achievement and in 1992 its Sesquicentennial Distinguished Alumni Award. In 1993, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce presented West with its Heck Ford Award. He has been honored by appointments from three governors and Presidents Reagan and Bush. He has served in advisory capacities at three different Virginia colleges; from 1977-85 he was on the State Board for Communities Colleges and simultaneously from 1978-82 was a member of the Governor’s Local Government Advisory Board. He is a lead officer for Radio Free Europe, the United Way, and the Virginia Municipal League. For 16 years, he also served as a Councilman for the City of Martinsville, Virginia, being both Mayor and Vice-Mayor during that time.
Now, who is this giant? Francis T. West, in reverse order, was: Former owner, Chairman, and President of West Window Corporation; President of Franklin Finance Corporation, Inc. in Rocky Mount, Virginia, and Director of: Multitrade Group, Inc. in Ridgeway, Virginia; Federal Trust Corporation in Winter Park, Florida; and Virginia Financial Services Association, Inc. And, Francis is a Former Director of Crestar Bank in Martinsville, Virginia, and Former Chairman, Region III, of the Small Business Administration Advisory Board.
His seven business connections, six church titles, thirteen civic and public appointments, three distinguished awards and an honorary degree attest to the fact that Francis “made something of himself,” is a giant in life, and is indeed awesome!
In recognition of his outstanding career achievements, in 1996 Francis T. West was among the charter members inducted into the Salem Alumni Hall of Fame established by the Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association.
