VMI FOUNDATION, INC. VMI Foundation to Present its Distinguished Service Award to Thomas G. Slater Jr. ’66 On May 1, 2012, Walton M. Jeffress Jr. He joined the Richmond-based law firm, ’68, president of the VMI Foundation, Hunton & Williams, in 1969 and spent his announced that, by unanimous vote, the entire career with that firm. He became a VMI Foundation Board of Trustees had partner in 1976 and is currently the group agreed to present the Foundation’s highest head emeritus of the Litigation, Intellectuhonor, the Distinguished Service Award al Property, Competition and Labor Group. (DSA), to Thomas G. His practice focuses on Slater Jr. ’66. First precomplex litigation matsented in 1969, the DSA ters with emphasis on recognizes alumni and antitrust and intellectual friends of the Institute property. He has been whose dedication to the listed in Best Lawyers Institute and to the misin America for more sion of the VMI Founthan 10 years and as a dation is exceptionally “trial ace” on the Top commendable. 500 Litigators list pubMatriculating from lished by the legal news Upperville, Virginia, site, Lawdragon. He is a Slater comes from a fammember of the bar in the ily with a strong VMI District of Columbia and tradition. His father, Virginia, and he is admitThomas G. Slater, graduted to practice before the ated from VMI in 1932. Fourth, Fifth and District Slater Jr. ’66 Another ancestor, John of Columbia U.S. Circuit F. Fletcher, graduated Courts of Appeal and the in 1859 and was killed in action during U.S. Supreme Court. the Civil War while serving with the 75th Slater is a fellow of the American ColVirginia Cavalry. Slater’s son, Tom III, is lege of Trial Lawyers, the American Bar a 1990 graduate of VMI and a former head Foundation and the Virginia Law Founbaseball coach at VMI. dation. He is a past president of the Bar Like his father, Slater was a talented Association of the City of Richmond and athlete as a cadet. He played football all served on the Executive Committee of the four years at VMI – at linebacker and Virginia State Bar from 1996-98. fullback positions – and he was a letterSlater has been active in civic affairs as man in 1963, 1964 and 1965. During his well, serving as a trustee and chairman of first class year, he was co-captain of the the Virginia Historical Society, a director of football team. He also received Honorable the Virginia 4-H Foundation and president Mention All-Southern Conference and of the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society. All-State Football in 1965. In addition, Since his graduation, Slater has been an Slater participated in track as a sprinter active supporter of VMI. A member of the during his cadetship. He was a member Richmond, Virginia, chapter of The VMI of the Athletic Council and the Monogram Alumni Association, Inc., since 1969, he Club and served as the Monogram Club’s was its president from 1978-79. He also president during his first class year. was a member of The VMI Alumni AssoAs a cadet, Slater excelled academically ciation Board from 1975-87 and served as and was a regular on the Dean’s List his the association’s president from 1985-87. last two years. He graduated with a degree Elected to the VMI Foundation Board of in history in 1966, and afterward, he at- Trustees in 1991, he was president of the tended the University of Virginia’s law Foundation from 1996-98. He was a memschool, receiving his LLB in 1969. ber of the Executive Committee of VMI’s 186
most recent capital campaign, Reveille: A Call to Excel. In 2003, he joined the Institute’s Board of Visitors (BOV), and he served as president of the BOV from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2011. Slater is married to the former Martha (Scottie) Newell. He has three children (Thomas G. Slater III ’90, Andrew F. Slater and Tacy Slater Norris), two stepchildren (Martha Brent Reeve and Andrew Mason Brent) and seven grandchildren. He and Scottie live in Richmond but continue to own and operate Rose Hill Farm in Upperville, a property that has been in Slater’s family since the 1840s. Commenting on the presentation of the Distinguished Service Award to Slater, Foundation President Jeffress said, “This is a richly deserved award. Tom has tirelessly and selflessly served the VMI Foundation, The VMI Alumni Association and the Institute for decades. In his many leadership roles, including that as president of the board of visitors, he has been known for his sound wisdom and reliable judgment. The entire board of trustees, therefore, was delighted to select him as the most recent recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. I am looking forward to presenting Tom with the DSA and, by doing so, bringing him into company with some of VMI’s most illustrious alumni.” Of his reaction to receiving the news that the Foundation had decided to present him with the Distinguished Service Award, Slater said, “When Walt Jeffress called to tell me of the board’s decision, I was highly honored and humbled. I had to also say that there is a long line of alums who deserve this award more than I do.” Slater will receive the DSA on Nov. 9th at the 2012 Founders Day Convocation in VMI’s Cameron Hall. Editor’s Note: Unless stated otherwise, the articles and photos in the Foundation section of the Alumni Review are provided by the VMI Foundation.
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