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Plaque Dedicated in Honor of Leonard Solomon

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Sept. 10, 2014. On Sept. 19, a plaque will be dedicated in the Watauga Medical Center Lobby in memory of Leonard Solomon, a long time supporter of the High Country community. The ceremony will take place at 12 p.m. with a reception to follow. Friends and family of Solomon and the community are invited to attend.

Appalachian Regional Healthcare Foundation would like to thank his wife, Sandi Finci Solomon, for her generous and continuous support of Appalachian Regional Healthcare System.

Solomon was a driven and generous individual. He supported many causes around the world including the Global Hunger Project, Salvation Army, JAFCO, The Mayo Clinic, the Temple of the High Country, John Hopkins, University of Maryland and Appalachian State University. At the age of 53, he was only one of 32 cyclists to complete a TransAmerica Bike Marathon to end hunger. The route took him from Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco, a total distance of 4,200 miles. Through his philanthropic efforts he met three former presidents and was invited to the White House.

In 1984, he ran with the Olympic torch. At age 71, Solomon roller bladed 150 miles in 17 hours to raise money for Kids Ecology Corps, an organization he’d co-founded, and at the age of 80 he completed at 150 mile bike ride to benefit Multiple Sclerosis.

Solomon was also a successful entrepreneur, reflected in his first business venture, Home Inc. Additionally, Budget Rent-a-Car was one of his company’s original franchisees. He co-founded the Northern Virginia Racquet Club and Heritage Motor Car Company in addition to being a franchisee of a Wuv’s and Kilwin’s Ice Cream.

Solomon’s generosity and kindness have both benefitted and inspired many people with whom he crossed paths. He and his wife, Sandi, have been and continue to be incredibly generous to the mountain community. They have inspired others and are highly respected for their philanthropy. Appalachian Regional healthcare System is honored to dedicate a plaque in his memory in hopes that it will continue to encourage and inspire others by the legacy he created.