Virginia Tech's Civil War expert to emcee charity event

James I. Robertson Jr., Alumni Distinguished Professor of history in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech and a noted Civil War author, will emcee the Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley (LV-NRV) Scrabble Tournament on Thursday, Oct. 11, at the German Club Manor on Southgate Drive in Blacksburg.

The event, which gets under way at 5:30 p.m. with a silent auction and light supper, will help raise money for the non-profit agency’s literacy work in Floyd, Pulaski, Montgomery, and Giles counties and Radford city.

Robertson, who is donating his time to the agency, is executive director of Virginia Tech’s Virginia Center for Civil War Studies and a charter member of the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission, which is organizing the commonwealth’s observance of the 150th anniversary of the war. In the early 1960s, President John F. Kennedy tapped him to direct the national four-year commemoration of the war’s centennial.

The Civil War expert has written a number of books on the period, written and narrated programs for public radio and public television, and appeared on several national television networks. He organizes two Civil War events each year and teaches one of the nation’s largest classes on Civil War history.

“We are excited that such a well known and popular speaker has agreed to emcee the event,” said Mark Williams, vice president and commercial relationship manager for FNB Corp. and president of the LV-NRV Board of Directors. “Now we encourage people to sign up to play on a team in the Scrabble tournament to have a fun-filled evening.”

Teams of three people can sign up or individuals can register to be placed on a team. Entry fee is $30 per person, or $90 per team. Any teams that competed in the Montgomery County Rotary’s 15th Annual New River Valley Spelling Bee can participate in the Scrabble tournament at no extra cost.

LV-NRV is also accepting sponsorships for the event from businesses, organizations, and individuals who want to support the work of the organization, which is an accredited affiliate of ProLiteracy America. LV-NRV provides free tutoring to illiterate adults and speakers of languages other than English and raises literacy awareness in the New River Valley.

Individuals and teams who want to participate in the tournament as well as businesses, organizations, and individuals who want to help sponsor the event should call 540/382-7262.

For information on the work of Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley, call 540/382-7262.