Van Winkle presents public service award to K. Ray Bailey

July 11, 2007 — The Van Winkle Law Firm presented its first Excellence in Public Service Award to K. Ray Bailey at the annual meeting of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce on June 28. Bailey, who has served as president of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College for 17 years, announced his retirement – effective August 1 – earlier this year.

The Excellence in Public Service Award recognizes individuals for their outstanding contribution to the community through their involvement, service or motivation to improving the quality of life for the citizens of Buncombe County.

“Ray is the perfect recipient of the inaugural Excellence in Public Serve Award,” said Van Winkle President Philip Smith. “His contributions to our community have been immeasurable, particularly in the field of education. As a result, adults throughout Western North Carolina have access to quality education that advances not only their own careers, but the livelihood of our entire region.”

During his tenure, Bailey grew A-B Tech into a three-campus institution with more than 25,000 students, leading it to be named one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the country. He also secured the largest donation of property ever made to a community college in the United States when BASF Corp. donated 37 acres and three buildings to the school in 2000.

Among the many awards he has received, Bailey was honored as the most outstanding president in the North Carolina Community College System in 2005. He has served as a board member and chair of more than 30 civic organizations and was named one of the most influential people in Buncombe County in a survey of community leaders conducted by The Asheville Citizen-Times.

The Van Winkle Law Firm, which is celebrating its centennial in 2007, is the largest practice in Western North Carolina and one of the oldest in the state. The firm offers the region’s most extensive list of practice areas, and its force of nearly 40 attorneys and more than 60 support professionals represents clients in every level of the federal and state court systems.

For more information on The Van Winkle Law Firm and its centennial, visit www.vwlawfirm.com.