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The Shott Lecture Series featuring former Florida governor Jeb Bush, scheduled for October 30 at Bluefield College, has been postponed due to the threat of severe weather across the region.

Chris Shoemaker

October 29, 2012

	Read More: Lecture Series Just One Way Shott Foundation Continues to Enhance Community
	Read More: Lecture Series Just One Way Shott Foundation Continues to Enhance Community

Originally slated for 11 a.m. in the BC Dome on October 30, the Bush lecture will take a back seat for now to an early fall/winter storm, created by a strong cold front moving from the North across the Great Lakes to the East and moisture from Hurricane Sandy making its way from the Atlantic Ocean onto the East Coast.

With already an inch of snow on the ground in Bluefield as of Monday morning, October 29 and with forecasts calling for an additional 4-8 inches of accumulation in lower elevations and up to a foot or more in higher elevations by Tuesday, October 30, the day of the event, organizers decided it best to reschedule the Bush visit.

In addition to the Governor’s and attendees’ safety, potential power outages were also a factor in deciding to delay the Bush lecture, because of the wet, heavy snow expected, coupled with projected winds up to 20 to 40 miles per hour with gusts up to 60 MPH.

The Hugh I. Shott, Jr. Foundation is working with the Washington Speakers Bureau and Governor Bush’s office to rearrange the event. Once a new date is confirmed, details will be communicated to invited guests, participating colleges, and the general public.

A two-term Florida governor, elected in 1998 and 2002, Bush is well known for his policies that promote job growth. In fact, Bush tax cuts during every year of his tenure as governor helped Florida lead the nation in job creation. During his rescheduled visit to Bluefield College, Bush will speak about “America’s Promise in Uncertain Times.”

The Hugh I. Shott, Jr. Foundation has sponsored the Shott Lecture Series since 1988, with a lecture approximately every five years that rotates between Bluefield College, Bluefield State College, and Concord University. The purpose, according to Shott Foundation president R.W. “Buz” Wilkinson, is to “provide quality speakers with national and international recognition,” and to “give students from the three local colleges -- plus West Virginia University and Marshall University -- the opportunity to interact with national leaders in a forum environment.”

While governor, Bush put Florida on the forefront of consumer healthcare advances by signing Medicaid reform legislation, “Empowered Care.” He also led efforts to promote and reform education. In fact, during his tenure as governor, Florida students made the greatest gains in achievement, and Florida was one of only a handful of states to close the achievement gap.

Before governor, Bush served Florida as secretary of commerce, during which time he promoted the state’s business climate worldwide. He also created Foundation for Florida’s Future, a non-profit organization that later joined forces with the Greater Miami Urban League to establish one of the state’s first charter schools.

In addition to politics, Bush formed and managed a real estate development company, which grew to become the largest full-service commercial real estate company in south Florida. He also co-authored “Profiles in Character,” a book profiling 14 of Florida’s civic heroes making a difference without claiming a single news headline.

Currently, Bush is the head of his own successful consulting business, Jeb Bush and Associates, where his clients range from small technology start-ups to well-known Fortune 500 companies. The son of former United States president George H.W. Bush, he is also the chairman of Foundation for Excellence in Education, a national foundation focused on education reform.

In addition to his speech, when Bush does visit Bluefield College, he will attend a private reception and luncheon following his lecture. He will also participate in a discussion forum with invited students from Bluefield College, Bluefield State College, Concord University, West Virginia University, and Marshall University.

With his appearance, once rescheduled, Bush will join a distinguished list of speakers in the lecture series, including former U.S. Homeland Security director Tom Ridge (BSC 2006), former U.S. secretary of education Dr. William J. Bennett (CU 2001), former vice president of the United States Dan Quayle (BC 1997), former U.S. secretary of state Dr. Henry Kissinger (BSC 1991), and former U.S. ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick (CU 1988).

EVENT POSTPONED FOR OCTOBER 30 AND TO BE RESCHEDULED AT A LATER DATE.

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush will speak on the campus of Bluefield College, Tuesday, October 30, as part of the Shott Lecture Series, sponsored by the Hugh I. Shott, Jr. Foundation.

A two-term Florida governor, elected in 1998 and 2002, Bush is well known for his policies that promote job growth. In fact, Bush tax cuts during every year of his tenure as governor helped Florida lead the nation in job creation. During his visit to Bluefield College, Bush will speak about “America’s Promise in Uncertain Times.”

“The Hugh I. Shott, Jr. Foundation has sponsored the Shott Lecture Series since 1988, with a lecture approximately every five years that rotates between Bluefield College, Bluefield State College and Concord University,” said Shott Foundation president R.W. ‘Buz’ Wilkinson. “Our hope is that the lectures will accomplish two goals: provide quality speakers with national and international recognition, and give students from the three local colleges -- plus West Virginia University and Marshall University -- the opportunity to interact with these national leaders in a forum environment. We are pleased that this sixth lecture will bring Jeb Bush to our area.”

While governor, Bush put Florida on the forefront of consumer healthcare advances by signing Medicaid reform legislation, “Empowered Care.” He also led efforts to promote and reform education. In fact, during his tenure as governor, Florida students made the greatest gains in achievement, and Florida was one of only a handful of states to close the achievement gap. He will speak about the challenges facing education during his remarks at Bluefield College.

“We are fortunate to have Governor Bush as keynote speaker in this year’s Shott Lecture Series,” said BC president Dr. David Olive. “As governor, he had a tremendous track record in improving student success and making Florida public schools a model for our nation. He designed policies that positively impacted students’ reading at grade level and improved graduation rates.”

Before governor, Bush served Florida as secretary of commerce, during which time he promoted the state’s business climate worldwide. He also created Foundation for Florida’s Future, a non-profit organization that later joined forces with the Greater Miami Urban League to establish one of the state’s first charter schools.

In addition to politics, Bush formed and managed a real estate development company, which grew to become the largest full-service commercial real estate company in south Florida. He also co-authored “Profiles in Character,” a book profiling 14 of Florida’s civic heroes making a difference without claiming a single news headline.

Currently, Bush is the head of his own successful consulting business, Jeb Bush and Associates, where his clients range from small technology start-ups to well-known Fortune 500 companies. The son of former United States president George H.W. Bush, he is also the chairman of Foundation for Excellence in Education, a national foundation focused on education reform.

In addition to his speech, slated for 11:00 a.m. inside Bluefield College’s Dome Gymnasium, Bush will attend a private reception and luncheon following his lecture. The former Florida governor will also participate in a discussion forum with students from Bluefield College, Bluefield State College, Concord University, West Virginia University, and Marshall University.

The Shott Lecture Series was developed by the Hugh I. Shott, Jr. Foundation to “enhance the educational opportunities available to students of southern West Virginia and southwest Virginia.” Prominent speakers in various fields are invited to speak for the series that alternates between Bluefield College, Bluefield State College and Concord University.

With his appearance this fall, Bush will join a distinguished list of speakers in the lecture series, including former U.S. Homeland Security director Tom Ridge (BSC 2006), former U.S. secretary of education Dr. William J. Bennett (CU 2001), former vice president of the United States Dan Quayle (BC 1997), former U.S. secretary of state Dr. Henry Kissinger (BSC 1991), and former U.S. ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick (CU 1988).

“Bluefield College, along with the other colleges and the communities throughout Virginia and West Virginia, are grateful to the Shott Foundation for not only its generosity in funding this event, but also for the vision of its directors to have created this lecture series,” said Dr. Olive. “The lecture series is a wonderful gift to our students and communities, and we are richly blessed to have access to speakers such as Governor Jeb Bush due to the Foundation’s generosity.”

The Shott Foundation, founded in 1984 by former Bluefield Daily Telegraph publisher Hugh I. Shott, Jr., who died in 1985, is designed to reinvest its resources “to improve the social and economic quality of life in southern West Virginia and other communities within the trade area of the Daily Telegraph.” Shott once stated that the Foundation allowed him to return the benefits of his enterprises to the communities that helped build his success.

LECTURE SERIES JUST ONE WAY SHOTT FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY

On Tuesday, October 30 when former Florida Governor Jeb Bush speaks on the campus of Bluefield College as part of the Shott Lecture Series, the event will not only be a milestone moment for the community, but yet another way in which the Hugh I. Shott, Jr. Foundation continues to enhance the social, educational and economic opportunities available to residents of the region.

A two-term Florida governor, elected in 1998 and 2002, Bush will speak at 11:00 a.m. inside BC’s Dome Gymnasium. As with all Shott Lectures, invited guests will be seated first, with remaining seats then opened to the community at-large at 10:50 a.m.

In the event the Dome reaches capacity, all remaining guests who do not get a seat will be invited to Harman Chapel on the BC campus where the College will provide a live broadcast of Governor Bush’s lecture. In addition, listeners anywhere may view a live broadcast of the event online by visiting the BC web site at www.bluefield.edu/bushlive.

Shuttle service will be available from additional parking spaces at Mitchell Stadium to the Dome and from the Dome to Harman Chapel.

Well known for his policies that promote job growth, Bush cut taxes during every year of his tenure as governor, which helped Florida lead the nation in job creation. He also led efforts to promote and reform education. In fact, during his tenure as governor, Florida students made the greatest gains in achievement, and Florida was one of only a handful of states to close the achievement gap.

During his visit to Bluefield, Bush will speak about education and “America’s Promise in Uncertain Times.” He will also participate in a discussion forum with invited students from Bluefield College, Bluefield State College, Concord University, and Marshall University -- all made possible through the generosity of the Shott Foundation.

Created in 1988, the Shott Lecture Series was developed by the Hugh I. Shott, Jr. Foundation to enhance the educational opportunities available to students of southern West Virginia and southwest Virginia. Prominent speakers in government, business and other fields are invited to speak for the series that alternates between Bluefield College, Bluefield State College and Concord University.

With his appearance this fall, Bush will join a distinguished list of speakers in the lecture series, including former U.S. Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge (BSC 2006), former U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. William J. Bennett (CU 2001), former Vice President of the United States Dan Quayle (BC 1997), former U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger (BSC 1991), and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Jeane Kirkpatrick (CU 1988).

While significant, the lecture series is just one way in which the Shott Foundation enhances the quality of life in the region. Since its inception in 1984, the Foundation has contributed to a variety of educational, cultural, social and capital improvement projects in southern West Virginia and southwestern Virginia.

For example, in 1985 the Foundation gave $1 million to Bluefield College for the construction of Shott Hall, the school’s dining and student activities center. A year later, the Foundation matched $500,000 for the completion of the Greater Bluefield Community Center and gave $200,000 to aid in the construction of the Princeton High School Recreation Complex, including soccer, tennis, football and baseball facilities. Other gifts that year assisted the Mercer County Board of Education with its computer Writing-to-Read Program; Dr. J. Elliott Blaydes for eye care and surgery; and Appalachian Teen Challenge and its treatment center devoted to young adults coping with drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Among the Foundation’s more recent gifts: a generous grant to Bluefield State College to renovate its facility used for business instruction and to create within the building a new W. Paul Cole, Jr. School of Business; funds to help create a new public library in the City of Princeton; a grant to help Community Action of South Eastern West Virginia (CASE WV) build a new drug rehabilitation center in Bluefield; and $500,000 for the construction of a new field house and recreational gymnasiums at Graham High School.

This year alone, the Foundation has already donated $250,000 to the City of Bluefield for the purpose of renovating Mitchell Stadium so that it is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and provided a $1 million matching grant to Bluefield College for the first phase of construction of its new Campus and Community Wellness Center.

In fact, the Shott Foundation is one of Bluefield College’s most generous donors, having contributed in excess of $3 million to BC initiatives over the years, including a $100,000 grant for the creation of SMART technology classrooms, a $150,000 gift for renovations to Easley Library, $200,000 for renovations to the school’s Cruise and Rish residence halls, and additional monies for renovations to Harman Chapel, the Dome Gymnasium, and Shott Hall.

Other local recipients of the generosity of the Shott Foundation include: the Alliance for the Arts, Bluefield Area Foundation, Inc., Bramwell Foundation, Concord University, Craft Memorial Library, East River Soccer Association, Mercer County E911, Mercer County Development Authority, McDowell County Economic Development Authority, Mountain Mission School, Princeton Community Hospital Foundation, Princeton Health and Fitness Center, Salvation Army, Science Center of West Virginia, Southwest Virginia Community College, Tazewell County Board of Education, the Town of Bluefield, Virginia, and Wytheville Community College, among others. All in all, the Shott Foundation has contributed in excess of $33 million, the vast majority of which has funded enhancements to the region.

Founded in 1984 by Hugh I. Shott, Jr. just prior to his death in 1985, the Shott Foundation is designed to improve the quality of personal and economic life in southern West Virginia, southwestern Virginia and other communities within the trade area of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, a newspaper Shott’s father established. Following in his father’s footsteps, Shott became the publisher of the newspaper and chairman of the Daily Telegraph Printing Company. His business interests also included operation of a variety of other local media outlets, including the Sunset News afternoon newspaper and Bluefield’s first radio (WHIS-AM and WHAJ-FM) and television (WHIS, now WVVA) stations.

With a desire to give back to the community what he had been given through the support of his businesses, Shott created the Foundation and dedicated it to reinvesting in the community. In fact, before his death he stated that the Foundation allowed him to “return the benefits of his enterprises to the communities which helped to build his success.”

For more information about the Shott Lecture Series at Bluefield College, e-mail , or call 276-326-4212.

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