FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RETIRED PROFESSOR HONORED BY VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

DANVILLE, VA, July 6, 2007 – C. Kinney Rorrer, Professor Emeritus at Danville Community College, was honored during the last session of the Virginia General Assembly for his contribution to the college and area. Recently, Delegates Robert Hurt and Danny Marshall recently presented Rorrer with a framed copy of the resolution, House Joint Resolution No. 942.

“I’m extremely pleased and honored to receive this,” says Rorrer, who retired from DCC in 2006, after 32 years of service. “Like all professors, I appreciate the support I received from the community, from parents, and from coworkers and others.”

Rorrer earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from Appalachian State University in 1968 and 1969, respectively. Prior to coming to DCC, he taught at Mitchell College (Statesville, NC) for two years and at Hargrave Military Academy for three years.

He has been honored with the Medal of Honor Award from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Outstanding Educator Award from the Sons of the American Revolution. Rorrer has also received numerous other awards, including the DCC Outstanding Faculty Award and the Danville Historical Society Education Award. The Delius-Rorrer History Medallion was established by individuals in the community to annually recognize an outstanding DCC history student. He has also carried more than 200 DCC students on study-tours to Europe for 16 years, with the assistance of the Barksdale-Rorrer Study Abroad Endowed Scholarship.

“I had wonderful students at DCC and fond memories teaching them,” explains Rorrer. “It’s great to see the students I taught working successfully in the community.”

Rorrer says his passion for teaching history also corresponds with his love for old-time and bluegrass music. He has conducted workshops about old-time music across the nation and has written many articles for The Journal of Country Music and Old-Time Music. He has also written a biography of old-time musician, Charlie Poole, titled Rambling Blues: The Life and Songs of Charlie Poole.

Currently, he plays in a band called “The New North Carolina Ramblers,” which recently released its first CD, entitled Cotton Mill Blues. The band has appeared at numerous festivals and events, including the 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which celebrated 400 years of Virginia music and dance. The New North Carolina Ramblers was one of five string bands chosen to represent Virginia at the festival.

In addition, Rorrer has been hosting radio shows for 25 years, Back to the Blue Ridge on WVTF (Roanoke). He has also served as vice president for public relations for the Dan River Region Bluegrass Music Association. Rorrer says that although he has retired from DCC, he will always remember the students, faculty, staff and administrators he associated with over the years.

 “My experience at DCC was fabulous,” says Rorrer. “DCC has such good people to work for, and I was truly pleased to teach at the college.”