Mr. David S. Ferguson '57

A Roanoke native, David Ferguson attended Andrew Lewis High School before entering Roanoke College. He was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at Roanoke, serving as its vice president. Ferguson majored in economics and received the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957.

Ferguson joined the U. S Navy after college and attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He was assigned to the Oceana Master Jet Base in Virginia Beach and served as its Public Information officer. He was honorably discharged as a lieutenant in 1960.

Ferguson spent the next three years as Labor Relations Specialist at Dan River Mills in Danville, Virginia. There he was responsible for all labor relations activities for approximately 2000 employees. He then served as personnel director for various employers, including the City of Roanoke where he established and implemented a complete personnel program for the City.

David's outstanding 30-year career with the Florida Department of Transportation began in 1973, where he served as statewide Director of Human Resources for 10,000 DOT employees. Under his tenure, he developed an entire Personnel System for the Florida DOT, a system that was later used by the Florida Legislature as the basis for its overall State Career Service reform.

In 2001, Ferguson was selected as one of only ten transportation official in the U.S. for participation in the International Study Tour on Transportation Workforce Development. This study included visits to Sweden, Germany, France and the United Kingdom during which they met with both public and private employers and officials, and then finalized a report of recommendation for use by Federal and State Transportation Agencies. David has received many additional honors and award throughout his distinguished career.

After his retirement in 2003, David was certified by the Supreme Court of Florida as a Mediator for the Court System. He currently volunteers one day a week in the Florida Second Judicial Circuit Court System. He also remains active in business and social organization and enjoys hiking, reading, golf, and dancing.

David and his wife, Rosemary Sanderlin Ferguson are Lifetime Sustaining members of the Roanoke College Associates. They are members of the Society of 1842, and their bequest will establish the David and Rosemary Ferguson Scholarship for Roanoke's students. David also served on the Class of 1957 45th and 50th reunion committees. David and Rosemary currently reside in Tallahassee, Florida.

David S. Ferguson received the Roanoke College Medal in 1982.