Academy of Distinguished Alumni
Samuel H. McGhee, III, Academy of Distinguished Alumni Award 2002
B.S. 1963
President (retired), Mattern & Craig, Inc.

"The education that I received at Virginia Tech played a significant role in my professional success and, therefore, I believe it is important that I be active in university affairs," says Sam McGhee, retired president of Mattern & Craig, Inc. Consulting Engineers/Surveyors.



Sam served on the President's Advisory Board as well as on the College of Engineering's Executive Committee during the Campaign for Virginia Tech. A dedicated Via Department alumnus, he has served as a member and a former chair of CEE's Alumni Board. He also is a member of the university's Ut Prosim Society, the Legacy Society and the College of Engineering's Committee of 100, and he holds the distinction of being a Golden Hokie.



After receiving his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Virginia Tech in 1963, Sam accepted a position as assistant town manager in Front Royal, Virginia. At the same time he began ten years of service in the Virginia Army National Guard, attaining the rank of captain. A few years later he moved to Martinsville, Virginia, to serve as chief of the city's Engineering Division.



In 1969 Mr. McGhee became Roanoke's city engineer and assistant city manager. He became active in the community as well, and the Roanoke Jaycees named him the Outstanding Young Man of the Year in 1973. In recognition of his 12 years of municipal service, Roanoke's City Council presented him with the key to the city in 1981.



That same year, Mr. McGhee left public service to go into private engineering practice with Mattern & Craig in Roanoke. In 1997, after suffering a severe stroke, he retired as president of the engineering company.



During his career, Mr. McGhee became a registered professional engineer in Virginia and several other Southeastern states. He also served on the boards of a number of professional and civic organizations: the Consulting Engineers Council of Virginia; the Virginia-Maryland-Washington, D.C. Chapter of the American Water Works Association; City of Roanoke Industrial Development Authority; Virginia Local Government Management Association; Roanoke Chapter of the American Red Cross; and Burrell Memorial Hospital.



An active member of the Second Presbyterian Church of Roanoke, Sam has served on the Board of Deacons and was the board's chairman before being elected to the church's session. For nine years he was an active elder in the church and served as clerk for six years. He also taught the confirmation class for two years and was scout master at the church for ten years. Currently, Sam is on the church's property committee, which recently spearheaded projects to make the church more accessible.



Since suffering his stroke, Sam has become an advocate for the disabled. He serves on two boards that work to meet the needs of handicapped individuals and he works closely with the City of Roanoke to find ways to make the city more accessible. He also has served on the city's Parks and Recreation Long-Range Master Plan Committee.



Sam and his wife, Sara, recently celebrated their 38th anniversary. They have four children and four grandchildren. One son, Sam IV, earned his B.S. and M.S. in mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech. A daughter, Laurie Wright, received a degree in forestry management from the university in 1995 and is currently a member of the College of Natural Resources Alumni Board of Directors. Laurie's twin sister, Julie, received her D.V.M. degree from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000 and is continuing her education at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg.



Sadly, the couple's son Will did not attend Virginia Tech-but he did graduate from Georgetown University and is now a major in the U.S. Army.