Batten Sr. ranks No. 17 on list of generous donors

Posted to: Business Norfolk

By Carolyn Shapiro
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 15, 2008

Frank Batten Sr., retired chairman and chief executive officer of Landmark Communications Inc., was ranked No. 17 in The Chronicle of Philanthropy's list of the 50 most-generous donors in 2007.

In the 17th spot, Batten, 80, joined three others who gave $100 million last year: financier Rupert H. Johnson Jr.; Nike footwear company co-founder Philip H. Knight and his wife, Penny; and California real estate developer Robert C. Powell and his wife, Jeannette.

Batten's donation went to the University of Virginia - the largest gift in its history - to establish the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. William Barron Hilton ranked No. 1 on the Chronicle's list, released Sunday, for giving $1.2 billion.

Landmark, based in Norfolk, owns The Virginian-Pilot, The Weather Channel, two TV stations and other publications. It is now exploring strategic alternatives that could lead to a sale of the company.

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True Measure of Batten Sr.

Submitted by karlk26388 on Thu, 01/17/2008 at 9:08 pm.

Tidewater was indeed blessed to of have Frank Batten, Sr. at the helm for many years of the Virginian-Pilot and Ledger-Star. With his leadership and guidance the paper grew and won many journalistic awards. The addition of the community newspapers like the Beacon and Clipper added the needed community news that the daily paper could not effectively carry. His contributions to the states universities and colleges will go unmatched for years to come.
However, the true measure of his greatness in his makers eyes, will be how his employees are treated as Landmark is dissolved.

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