UWG
News Item
Contact: University Communications & Marketing
Phone (678) 839-6464, FAX (678) 839-6645
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New Foundation Trustees
February 17, 2004
CARROLLTON,
GA - Charles E. “Eddie” Cole, chairman of the West Georgia
Foundation Board of Trustees, announces the addition of four new trustees.
Tommy Vance, General Ron Griffith, 
Susan
Plunkett, and Harry Preston began three-year terms on Jan. 1 to support
the fundraising efforts for the University of West Georgia.
Vance is a partner with the Carrollton law firm of Tisinger, Tisinger, Vance and Greer. He has served as chairman of the State Ethics Commission, vice chairman of the State Campaign Financial Disclosure Commission and as a member of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority.
A member of the Georgia Bar Association, Vance is active in the Carrollton Rotary Club. He has also served on the boards for Camp Sunshine, West Georgia National Bank, Greenway Medical Technology, Inc., the UWG Richards College of Business Board of Visitors, and the University of Georgia Business School Alumni Board.
Vance earned an undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Georgia and also earned his law degree from UGA’s School of Law. Vance’s wife, Karen, holds a masters degree from UWG and his son Casey also earned a degree from UWG. His mother graduated from and taught at the institution when it was still West Georgia College. The Vances have another son, Andy.
Retired from active service as an officer in the U.S. Army after 37 years, Griffith is currently the executive vice president of MPRI. MPRI is in the defense sector and provides training, education and leader development services for the U.S. government and internationally.
His last duty position was as Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, the second highest military position within the Department of Army. Prior to that, he was the Army’s Inspector General, the first Inspector General in the Army’s history to be selected to wear four stars.
He currently serves as a guest lecturer at the United States Military Academy at West Point in support of the Department of Ethics. He is a member of the Association of the United States Army, and serves on the advisory board of United Defense Group and is a director for the Allied Defense Group.
Griffith has been decorated with more than 22 different awards including the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, Overseas Service Medal (six awards), Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, the Army Staff Identification Badge, Kuwait Liberation Medal, and numerous others.
He is married to Dr. Hurdis Margaret Ann Griffith, retired dean of the College of Nursing at Rutgers University. They have two daughters and five grandchildren and the Griffiths reside in Arlington, VA. Griffith is originally from LaFayette, GA.
Plunkett continues her legacy as a fundraiser for the University with her presence on the Board of Trustees. In 1985-86, she served as co-chair of the Performing Arts Center Community Advisory Board which raised more than $500,000 to fund items originally deleted from the architect’s plans when construction bids came in over budget. The special campaign restored the funding for the orchestra pit, the Green Room, stage lighting, upright and grand pianos, furnishings and landscaping.
She is a founding member of the board of the University of Georgia State Botanical Garden of Georgia. She served on the long range planning committee for the Schenck School in Atlanta and has been an active volunteer in schools in both Carrollton and Atlanta.
Plunkett has held lay leadership positions at Carrollton First United Methodist Church and Peachtree Road Methodist Church. She also supports the Atlanta Ballet as a volunteer.
Plunkett earned both a bachelor and masters degree from the University of Georgia in reading and gifted education. She has two children and resides in Atlanta.
A past president of the UWG Braves Booster Club, Preston is president of Harry T’s Inc. in Carrollton. He worked as purchasing manager at Southwire Company from 1980-86 following his retirement from the U. S. Air Force after 20 years of service.
Preston is a past president of the Carroll county Sertoma Club, past district governor for the north Georgia district of Sertoma International, and past president of the Purchasing Management Association of Georgia. He is a charter member of the McIntosh Trail Chapter of the Military Officers Association, and a life member of the Air Force Association and the Veteran of Foreign Wars.
He attended UWG from 1957-60 and earned a degree in sociology from the University of Nebraska. Preston and his wife, Jackie, have two daughters.
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