Media Contact:

Russell Lawson
Marketing Director
Direct: (804) 783-6799
Cell: (804) 240-8862
Fax: (804) 783-7291
Email Russell Lawson

Law Firm Joins In Historical Marker Event Recognizing Virginia Tech/Montgomery Airport

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA (August 4, 2006)…Sands Anderson Marks & Miller’s attorneys joined with the Virginia Tech/Montgomery Regional Airport Authority and Virginia Tech/Montgomery Executive Airport on August 8, 2006 to help recognize the installation of a state historical marker at the airport.

Along with the airport staff and Sands Anderson, representatives of the Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society (VAHS), the Virginia Department of Aviation (VDA) and Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHS) attended. Members of the Airport Authority Board, Boards of Supervisors, Town Councils and government staff from Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Montgomery County and other local dignitaries also attended.

The marker commemorates the founding of the airport and its participation in the Civilian Pilot Training Program in the period before and during World War II. One of the first VPI student pilots graduated from that program, Howard J. Graninger, was one of the speakers and shareed some memories of the experience. In addition, Albert M. Orgain IV, chairman of the VAHS, led the unveiling ceremony that included remarks from John Kern of the VDHS, Randy Burdette and Cherry Evans, both of VDA, Michael St. Jean, director of the airport, and Richard Humphries, Virginia Tech's corporate pilot whose base of operations is Blacksburg.

Sands Anderson, counsel for the Airport Authority, sponsored a reception that followed the 1:00 PM event. Orgain is chairman of the firm’s Risk Management Practice Group and its Aviation Team, and is nationally-known for his knowledge in the fields of aviation law and aviation insurance law. He is an active pilot and VMI graduate who flew helicopter gunships during the Vietnam War.

The New River Valley office of Sands Anderson relocated on July 28 from Radford to Blacksburg. The move brought nine attorneys, five paralegals and seven additional staff to the center of Blacksburg at 250 South Main Street, Suite 226, in Kent Square.

Founded more than 150 years ago, Sands Anderson has 76 lawyers practicing among its offices in Richmond, Blacksburg, Fredericksburg and McLean, Virginia, and the Research Triangle of North Carolina. In 2008, it was ranked 9th in the Virginia Lawyers Weekly annual listing of the state’s largest law firms. Sands Anderson provides a full range of legal services to corporations and businesses, healthcare providers, financial institutions, state and local governments, the insurance industry and individuals.