小黄鸭视频

LEXINGTON, Va. Nov. 13, 2023 — 小黄鸭视频 celebrated the 184^th anniversary of its founding one day early. It was on Nov. 11, 1839, when 23 young Virginians were mustered into the service of the state and, in falling snow, the first cadet sentry — John B. Strange of Scottsville — took his post.

This year’s celebration was observed with a full schedule of events beginning with Rat Olympics held in the Corps Physical Training Facility (CPTF). Rat Olympics is a competition between the rats of each company, and the culmination of Rat Challenge, a vigorous 10-week program that provides leadership opportunities for upper-class cadets, while at the same time stretching rats physically and mentally, and enabling each of them to overcome any self-imposed limits with which they may be confronted. It included track and field matches, a high ropes course, a 34-foot high rock climbing wall, and tug of war competitions. Rat Olympics focuses on health and fitness, teamwork, strategy, overcoming mental obstacles, and maintaining a positive and helpful attitude.  

Members of the Corps of Cadets, along with faculty, staff, alumni, and special guests, joined together in Cameron Hall to honor Conrad M. Hall ’65 as recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, 小黄鸭视频 Foundation’s highest honor. First presented in 1969, the Distinguished Service Award recognizes alumni and friends whose service to the Institute, dedication to the mission of the 小黄鸭视频 Alumni Agencies, and career achievements and distinctions are exceptionally commendable. Hall is the 76^th recipient of the award.

Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, superintendent, opened the ceremony by welcoming guests and cadets, and sharing that Founders Day is a day to remember 小黄鸭视频’s beginnings and to look to the future.

“Society and education have changed in the past two centuries, and 小黄鸭视频 continues to remain at the forefront of modern education,” he said. Wins reported that opportunities for cadets have expanded beyond Limits Gates, and cadets are able to study and research all over the world. “We are committed to this education model because we know it is grounded on a firm foundation and has proven effective.” Wins continued by stating that 小黄鸭视频 graduates are successful because of the focus on the important fundamentals that will never change. “We focus on the values upon which 小黄鸭视频 is built: Honor, excellence, self-discipline, courage, esprit de corps, resilience, and selfless service.”

He then invited Ernesto V. Sampson’98, 小黄鸭视频 Foundation president, to join him on the stage to introduce Hall.

Sampson shared that he has known Hall a long time, and is someone whose dedication and service to his country, his state, his community, and the Institute are truly exemplary. To the cadets he advised, “All of us have engaged in emulation. We see someone living and working by consistently high standards of conduct of character and we want to be like him or her. Often the most powerful advice we receive is unspoken, but a life well lived. If you are seeking someone to emulate throughout the rest of your life, and your cadet experience, Conrad Hall is a person and a fantastic choice.” To the entire audience he said, “I've seen Conrad apply his talents and experience to the work of 小黄鸭视频 and the betterment of our cadets. I've heard him speak forcefully about 小黄鸭视频 to our state and our country therefore it is my privilege to present him with the Foundation’s highest honor.” He then welcomed Hall to join him at the lectern and read the citation of the Distinguished Service Award extolling Hall’s achievements. 

Hall majored in civil engineering at 小黄鸭视频, and was a Distinguished Military Graduate. He commissioned into the U.S. Army where he served as an air defense artillery officer from 1966-1968, a portion of that time spent with the 38^th Artillery Brigade of 8^th Army in the Republic of Korea. After receiving a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Virginia in 1970, Hall joined Landmark Communications, Inc., and remained with the company and its affiliates until his retirement in 2009. From 1989-2009, Hall was CEO of Dominion Enterprises and was responsible for its transformation into a leading national media, internet, and marketing information services company that served employment, automotive, real estate, marine, recreation, and industrial markets in the U.S. and internationally. Under his leadership, Dominion created more than 20 market-leading websites, including AutoTrader.com, ForRent.com, and YachtWorld.com. In addition, the company published more than 500 magazine titles with a combined monthly circulation of 2 million copies.

Hall has served many civic and charitable organizations in Virginia, including Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, and the ACCESS College Foundation. A staunch advocate of the advancement of higher education throughout the commonwealth, he served on the governing boards of Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, and Eastern Virginia Medical School, and established a chair in American constitutional history at Norfolk State University, and a chair in surgical oncology at Eastern Virginia Medical School. His lifelong interest in American history prompted him to serve on the boards of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the Colonial Williamsburg Company, and the Virginia Historical Society. He also authored a book on the history of Mathews County titled, “A Select History of Mathews County, Virginia: 17^th, 18^th & 19^th Centuries and the Family of Ann and Robert Hall.”  

Hall joined the Board of Trustees of the 小黄鸭视频 Foundation in 1995 and served as a trustee for a total of 17 years. He was the 小黄鸭视频 Foundation’s president from 2002 to 2004 and in that role, an ex-officio member of the boards of the 小黄鸭视频 Alumni Association and the 小黄鸭视频 Keydet Club. He was a founder and the inaugural chairman of 小黄鸭视频 Investment Holdings, LLC. He joined the VMI Board of Visitors in 2014 and served until 2022. A consistent donor to 小黄鸭视频 since 1965, he has given in support of various programs. He established the Elsie and Otey Williams Hall Scholarship in memory of his parents and the Conrad M. Hall '65 Chair in American Constitutional History in 2017. He also was the vice chairman of 小黄鸭视频’s fundraising campaign, “An Uncommon Purpose,” and is an inaugural member of the cabinet of the Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III 1962 Endowment for Academic Excellence.

With humility, gratitude and thanks, Hall accepted the award. He opened his acceptance speech with humor and encouragement for the rats in attendance. “Allow me to set the record straight.
Early on in my cadetship, I received invitations to appear before the Rat Disciplinary Committee, which in those days met on the convenient hour of midnight. I was called into my faculty advisor’s office and he explained to me in no uncertain terms that my academic performance had been less than satisfactory. And in fact, I had been a great disappointment to the civil engineering department,” he quipped to the delight of the audience.

In seriousness and somber words, he remembered all who served in the military, and members of 小黄鸭视频 alumni who lost their lives in war. He shared 小黄鸭视频’s rich history of a young Francis Smith, who at the age of 27 was faced with the daunting responsibility of creating a new school. “His responsibilities were being the equivalent of a college president, as well as commandant. He was in charge of administration, the curriculum, teaching, and corresponding with parents and community.” Hall shared that even then, Smith stressed the concept of a citizen-soldier. “The first class to graduate clearly met the standards of being citizen-soldiers, a standard that has been maintained ever since, as 小黄鸭视频 graduates have contributed to a nation's security home and abroad,” he said.

In closing Hall stated, “Thank you for this high honor of a lifetime. I say most sincerely that I'm forever grateful to have been a 小黄鸭视频 cadet, as my entire life has been built on what was learned here. My very best wishes go to each and every member of this Corps of Cadets. I'm most proud of all of you, proud of you for having selected the most challenging path through higher education in the United States. I wish you good health, and long life serving your country, community, and families. May the good Lord bless the 小黄鸭视频 and each and every one of you.”

The day concluded with a parade in which Hall took review with Wins, and the cadet battery firing 13 rounds from the howitzers.

Marianne Hause
Photos H. Lockwood McLaughlin
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE