2026 Berkeley County Distinguished Citizens Dinner

 The Potomac District of the Shenandoah Area Council of Scouting America proudly announces Dr. E Gordan Gee as the 2026 Distinguished Citizen Award Honoree for Berkeley County.

Currently retired after serving for a second time as president of West Virginia University, Dr. E. Gordon Gee has been a leader in higher education for more than four decades. In 2009 Time magazine named him one of the top 10 university presidents in the United States. Recently, the website Great Value Colleges named him the nation's top university president. In addition to his service at West Virginia University, which remains ongoing during retirement, Gee served as president of The Ohio State University (twice), Vanderbilt University, Brown University, and the University of Colorado.

Born in Vernal, Utah, Gee graduated from the University of Utah with an honors degree in history and earned his J.D. and Ed.D. degrees from Columbia University. Before starting his career in higher education, he clerked under Chief Justice David T. Lewis of the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and was a judicial fellow and staff assistant to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he worked for Chief Justice Warren Burger.

He is the co-author of over a dozen books, including his most recent book What's Public about Public Higher Education, and two additional recent ones, Leading Colleges Universities and Land-Grant Universities for the Future. He has also authored many papers and articles on law and education. His service on education-governance organizations and commissions is extensive. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the National 4-H Council and the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America. He served as chair of the Big 12 Board of Directors Executive Committee for the 2017-18 year and is a Big 12 representative on the College Football Playoff Board of Managers.  He is a Member of the Center for Economic Development (CED) Task Force on Building a More Civil and Just Society, and an inaugural member of the Education Advisory Board (EAB) Presidents Advisory Council.

Dr. E. Gordon Gee, who is engaged to Laurie Erickson, has one daughter, Rebekah Gee, and five grandchildren: Eva, Elizabeth, Nathan, Elly, and Ben.  

31st Annual Distinguished Citizen Award Marquee Sponsor $10,000
 Prominent recognition as the host in the reception room * Company logo/name displayed on all DCA print and social media * Company logo/name displayed  on banners/posters at the event * Company logo/name individual slide included in the slide show presentation running throughout the evening * Title Sponsor mentions in press, social media, and radio spots *  full-page ad in the program booklet * Seating for 10 guests

Honorary Eagle Scout $5,000
Admission to the pre-dinner reception with Dr. Gee * Company logo/name on DCA print and social media * Company logo/name displayed on banners/posters and included in the slide show presentation * Mentions in press, social media, and radio spots * Full-page ad in the DCA program booklet * Seating for 8 guests

Honorary Life Scout $2,500
Admission to the pre-dinner reception with Dr. Gee * Company logo/name on all DCA print and social media * Company logo/name displayed on banners/posters and included in the slide show presentation * Mentions in press and social media * Full-page ad in the DCA program booklet * Seating for 6 guests
 Honorary Star Scout $1,250
Company logo/name on all DCA print and social media * Company logo/name displayed on banners/posters and included in the slide show presentation * Half-page ad in the DCA program booklet * Seating for 6 guests
 Honorary First Class Scout $1,000
Company logo/name on all DCA print and social media * Company logo/name displayed on banners/posters and in the slide show presentation at the event * Half-page ad in the DCA program booklet * Seating for 4 guests
        Honorary Second Class Scout $750
Company logo/name on all DCA print and social media * Company logo/name displayed on banners/posters and in the slide show at the event * Quarter-page ad in the included in the DCA program booklet * Reserved seating for 4 guests

Honorary Tenderfoot Scout $500
 Company Logo/Name on all DCA Print and social media * Company Logo/Name displayed on banners/posters and in the slide show presentation * Business card size ad in the DCA program booklet * Seating for 2 guestsHonorary Cub Scout $350
 Name listed in the DCA program booklet * Seating for 2 guests

Honorary Bobcat $150

Seating for 1 guest