Bruce, born May
1, 1946, is the youngest son of Earl Griffith. He has an
Associate of Arts Degree and is a Phi Theta Kappa member from
Ferrum College. He has a BS in Textile Chemistry from NC State
in 1968 and is a member of the Theta Chi social fraternity. He
was a chemist with Dupont and an industrial engineer with JP
Stevens before returning to the family business in 1972 as a
partner with his dad and brother Bill, and is a third generation
lumberman that grew up in the business. Bruce is also managing
partner of Griffith Land and Timber Company.
PAST
ACTIVITIES
Always active in the
community, Bruce has served as a Jaycee; as Zone Governor of
Ruritan Clubs; was Rotary President when the prestigious
District Community Service Award was earned; a Paul Harris
Fellow; Past-President of Appalachian Hardwood Lumbermen;
President and Life Member of Ferrum College Alumni Association,
two Distinguished Alumni Awards and Trustee of Ferrum College;
volunteer fireman, and former President of the Patrick County
High School Booster Club. In high school, Bruce was co-captain
and honorable mention all-state basketball player on state
runner-up team; was starting pitcher on district champion
baseball team; Speaker of the House of Delegates at Boy’s State;
president of FFA and senior class, and Valedictorian of his
graduating class of 1964.
PRESENT ACTIVITIES
Today, Bruce proudly serves as Lay speaker, lay leader, chair of
evangelism, PPR committee, choir, and Sunday School teacher at
Stuart United Methodist Church. He sings and performs with the
community theater group "Belles and Beaus", and sings in the
gospel quartet "Glory Road Singers". He is a Member of the
National Hardwood Lumber Association and was one of five
national finalists for the 1998 Forestry Stewardship Award. He
is a member of Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers and
Appalachian Hardwood Lumbermen; Board member and officer of
Virginia Forest Products Association for over 20
years; and board member of
the Virginia Forestry Association; has called for a national
convention of forest industry leaders to set strategy and focus
on our industry issues; and was a speaker on family owned
businesses at the first hearing on the Virginia Chipmill study.
Bruce is
also a delegate for family owned sawmills at the SFI National
Forum, and has lobbied the President of United States, Congress
and state governments on forest issues. He helped form and is
active with two new industry groups TreeKeepers.org and WoodPR,
that do proactive work for forest industry. In 2005, Bruce
served dual roles as President of the Rotary Club of Patrick
County; and President of the Virginia Forest Products Industry.
IN
PATRICK COUNTY
Bruce is a sponsor of the Sharp Logger and Landowner programs,
led a timber growth and management tour with aid of the Virginia
Division of Forestry, and helped form a local logger
association. He has gone to elementary schools to teach
forestry issues program, has sponsored kids to state forestry
camp, and writes letters to the editors of many papers and has
been on local radio and TV discussing forestry issues as well as
participating in debates and giving speeches on the issues.
Bruce also does a County Fair booth on forest issues every year.
HOBBIES & FAMILY
Bruce enjoys collecting and restoring classic Chevy muscle
cars, video taping, watching TV news, taking college classes,
and learning new things. He loves talking to old lumber buddies
on the phone and enjoying the grandbabies. Bruce is married to
Cindy, has two children, Kara and Talley, and six grandchildren.
