News Release

March 17, 2006
News Release Contact:
Becky Gettings - (804) 213-4419
E-mail: pubrel@abc.virginia.gov

Swearing-In Ceremony for New Chair Held Today

Richmond - A swearing-in ceremony for Chair Esther H. Vassar will be held at the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) on March 17, 2006 at 3:45 p.m. Appointed to the Board in 2002, Vassar's reappointment by Governor Kaine makes her the first woman ever to serve consecutive terms on the Board.

The Honorable Jerrauld C. Jones will preside over the ceremony. Among attendees will be ABC Commissioners Susan R. Swecker and Pamela O'Berry Evans, Secretary of Public Safety John Marshall, legendary civil rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Virginia Senator Louise Lucas and Congressman Bobby Scott of Newport News.

Chair Vassar is a graduate of Howard University, University of Virginia, Harvard University Executive Program for State Officials, Virginia Executive Institute and Leadership Metro Richmond. A 2004 recipient of the Oliver W. Hill Freedom Fighter Award given by the Virginia NAACP, Vassar is a three-time gubernatorial appointee, including her current reappointment to the ABC Board. She served under Governor Wilder as director of the Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise. Chair Vassar currently lives in both Newport News and Richmond Virginia.