The Virginia Tech Alumni Association honored alumnus William H. Goodwin Jr. with its 2005 Distinguished Achievement Award winner during the university’s Founders Day celebration May 13-14.

The Virginia Tech Alumni Association Distinguished Achievement Award is presented annually to recognize distinguished achievement, personal and/or professional, in any field of endeavor of enduring significance and value to society.

Goodwin, of Richmond, Va., has emerged as one of the nation’s premier business leaders. He began his career with IBM, and later left the company to start Commonwealth Computer Advisors, a computer leasing company known today as CCA Financial Inc. Over the years, Goodwin increased his business portfolio by purchasing and eventually selling various companies such as AMF Bowling, AMF Bowling Centers, AMF Bakery Systems and the Ben Hogan Company.

Goodwin is currently Chairman of the Board of CCA Industries Inc, a diversified holding company whose assets include CCA Financial, Bag Boy Company, Pompanette Inc. and various investments and real estate holdings. In addition, CCA owns and operates several hospitality businesses, including The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Va., The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tenn., Kiawah Island Resort outside of Charleston, S.C., and most recently Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Goodwin has given his time and leadership to countless non-profit organizations whose boards have benefited by his expertise including the University of Virginia Board of Visitors, Collegiate School, the Darden School Foundation, the Virginia Commonwealth University Engineering Foundation, the Science Museum of Virginia, and the Virginia Tech College of Engineering Committee of 100.

Goodwin’s commitment to Virginia Tech has helped the university create outstanding facilities and programs for students and faculty including Torgersen Hall, The River Course, and scholarships and professorships for the Corps of Cadets and the College of Engineering.

Goodwin graduated from Virginia Tech in 1962 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He later received a master’s degree from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. He and his wife, Alice, have sought to improve the human condition through their support for cancer research by creating the Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research and through their philanthropic support of many non-profit organizations in ways that exemplify the university’s motto of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).

First held in 1972, Founders Day is Virginia Tech's annual celebration of academic and professional achievements of its students, faculty, staff and alumni. This year, Founders Day was held in conjunction with spring Commencement ceremonies.

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