A veteran who now works on behalf of all area veterans was a guest speaker during the annual Ruritan Club Veterans Dinner Nov. 11 at the Birch River Baptist Church in Birch River.

Curtis Pauley who heads the Nicholas County, Beckley/Raleigh County and Greenbrier Valley Campus offices for the Veterans Upward Bound program of New River Community and Technical College of Bluefield State College spoke to the Veterans Day honorees on the importance of education and particularly higher education.

The Alderson resident is a veteran of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era and has since dedicated his life to helping other veterans achieve higher education goals. Pauley just last spring earned a Masters degree from Marshall University while encouraging his wife as she studies at the Greenbrier Valley Campus of NRCTC towards a Bachelor of Science degree.

The Veterans Upward Bound program is open to all honorably discharged veteran of any American military service and Pauley and his staff work with the Veterans, no matter what educational program the veteran chooses. In addition to classroom work, there are also cultural and social events for the participating veterans and their families.

Pauley's Nicholas County office for the VUB is located in Northside Plaza Shopping Center and information on the program can be obtained by telephoing 1-304-872-2006 or 1-888-428-0485.

November 18, 2003

Submitted by Mike Williams