Zane D. Showker Leadership Institute
 Zane D. Showker, businessman, philanthropist and generous friend of Bridgewater College, was a role model of leadership and civic responsibility, Showker gave the College $1 million in 2002 to establish the Zane D. Showker Leadership Institute, which sponsors the High School Leadership Academy.
The youngest of nine children, Showker was proud that his parents named him after Western novelist Zane Grey. Both his parents died when he was just 12 years old. Determined to take care of himself, Showker began delivering newspapers in Craigsville, Va. After attending the University of Richmond for one year, he joined the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War II.
In 1950, he established Harrisonburg Fruit and Produce as owner and general manager. The company thrived, and in 1974, it merged with SYSCO Food Services, the country's largest wholesale food distributor. Showker served as president and general manager until 1991, when he became chairman emeritus of SYSCO Food Services of Virginia.
Showker's entrepreneurial spirit was not limited to one company. He also was involved in numerous business partnerships throughout the Shenandoah Valley, helping encourage the growth of small business in the area. He served as president and board member for many organizations, and received numerous awards and honors in recognition of his contributions to the community.
The vision of the Zane D. Showker Leadership Institute is to be a visible and integral participant in the enrichment of society by contributing to the development of moral leaders.
The mission of the Zane D. Showker Leadership Institute is to enhance the understanding and development of critical skills necessary to be creative and ethical leaders in a diverse and changing world through programs designed to cultivate individual potential and increase leadership opportunities for Bridgewater College students, high school students, and local community members.
"Promoting Ethical Leadership for the 21st Century" |
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