Colvin Joins AASU Board of Trustees

Savannah, GA—Armstrong Atlantic State University announces that Robert A. (Bob) Colvin, president and CEO of Memorial Health, has joined its twenty-four member foundation board of trustees. Additionally, several board members were voted into leadership positions: Raymond Gaster (president of Gaster Lumber) will serve as president; Brian R. Foster (vice president of First Chatham Bank) will serve as vice president; Millicent Melaver (corporate officer of Melaver, Inc.) will serve as secretary; and Robert W. (Bobby) Groves III (chairman of the board of South Atlantic Holdings, Inc.) will serve as treasurer.

"Colvin has joined the board during an exciting time of change and expansion at the university," said Gaster. "The university is implementing strategic initiatives adopted last year, including stepping up fundraising efforts and actively recruiting new members for six vacant slots on the board." Gaster says he anticipates the unveiling of several major initiatives in the next three to four months.

The foundation’s primary purpose is to acquire and administer funds and gifts for the support of the university and its programs. The foundation provides more than $300,000 annually to enhance academic and service programs. During the last six years, the net assets of the foundation have increased from nearly $300,000 to more than $3 million.

Colvin has served as president and CEO of Memorial Health since February 1997. Prior to joining Memorial Health, Colvin held executive positions with Quorum Health Resources, Inc., including, vice president of Georgia group operations in Atlanta, where he shouldered operational responsibility for eleven management contract hospitals. He also served as president and CEO of Gritman Medical Center and Palouse Regional Health Corporation, both in Moscow, Idaho.

Colvin serves as chairman of the board of directors of the Greater Savannah Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia State Chamber of Commerce, Branch Banking & Trust (BB&T) of Savannah, the American Heart Association of Savannah, and the First City Club of Savannah. In 1999, he was appointed by Georgia Governor Roy Barnes to serve on a special task force charged with assessing Georgia’s public and private sector Y2k preparedness.

Additionally, the board of trustees has renewed the terms of five trustees— Stephen S. Green (president of Stephen Green Properties, Inc.); David H. Dickey (Oliver, Maner & Gray, LLP); Spencer M. Wheeler, M.D. (Chatham Orthopedic Associates); Raymond Gaster; and W. Ray Persons (King & Spalding). Each member will serve a second, three-year term.

The board of trustees is a non-profit Georgia corporation designated to receive charitable contributions on behalf of the university. The officers and board of directors regulate and supervise its activities. Other members include the Honorable Thomas C. Bordeaux, Jr., Georgia state representative; Thomas J. Dillon; Andrew H. Ernst, Hunter, Maclean, Exley & Dunn, PC; J. Paul Hansen, Hansen Architects; Howard J. Morrison, Jr., Lebanon Ventures; Francis P. Rossiter, Jr., M.D.; Philip Solomons, Jr.; Don L. Waters, Brasseler, USA; and S. Hart Williford, VeriSign Telecommunications Services-Wireless Solutions. Ex-officio members include C. Leary Bell, AASU; Patrick L. Burk, Stevenson & Palmer; Thomas Z. Jones, AASU; Randy Rentz, New York Life; and Irving Victor, M.D., St. Joseph’s Hospital, Inc.

March 10, 2003