Bell Atlantic's Stallard Cited As Virginia's Outstanding Industrialist

Bell Atlantic's Stallard Cited As Virginia's Outstanding Industrialist

From Orphanage to Boardroom

February 19, 1997

RICHMOND, Va. - H.R. "Hugh"
Stallard, president & CEO of Bell
Atlantic-Virginia, is Virginia's Outstanding Industrialist for 1997.
The announcement came today in the chambers of the Virginia General
Assembly.

Stallard, who emerged from a Lynchburg orphanage to head the largest
telephone company in the state, is one of six Virginians being honored
by the Commonwealth and the Science Museum of Virginia for their work
in science and industry. He will receive the coveted award from Gov.
George Allen in ceremonies next month.

The Virginia Industrialist of the Year Award is given to a Virginia
resident "for a distinct contribution to a business or industry,
which
advanced business development through the innovative use of science or
technology."

Stallard is cited for aggressively deploying fiber optic and digital
technology in the state, positioning Virginia in the national
forefront in telecommunications infrastructure. He also was
instrumental in Bell Atlantic teaming up with Virginia Tech and the
town of Blacksburg to build the highly publicized Blacksburg
Electronic Village, catapulting the town into cyberspace.

In addition, Stallard is recognized for using new technologies to
bring telephone operator centers to the southwest Virginia communities
of Norton and Pulaski. Both centers created hundreds of new jobs in
the region.

He also led the way in creating a special fund at Bell Atlantic to
channel $7 million to schools throughout Virginia to build
sophisticated interactive distance learning systems. These systems
allow teachers to instruct students in as many as four remote
locations at one time. Currently, there are 21 such interactive
classrooms in the state and, with Bell Atlantic's help, more are on
the way.

Stallard, a Norton native, joined the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone
Co. of Virginia (now Bell Atlantic) in 1959 after serving in the U.S.
Coast Guard as a lieutenant commander. He graduated from
Hampden-Sydney College with a bachelor of science degree in physics
and math.

Stallard, who was raised at the Lynchburg Presbyterian Home, said he
had a great many people to thank for his success. "They believed in
me, and it made a difference," he said.

Stallard became president of Bell Atlantic-Virginia in 1985. Under
his direction, the company has moved from a monopoly enterprise to one
that is positioned to compete in the fast-paced telecommunications
marketplace.

Stallard serves on the boards of NationsBank, Trigon and Universal.
He is also a trustee for the Virginia Foundation for Independent
Colleges and is a member of the Virginia Business Council.

He also serves on the boards of the Virginia Historical Society and
the Virginia Literacy Foundation. He is on the Commission on the
Future of Public Education, and was appointed by Governor Allen to
serve on the Advisory Committee for the Regional Competitiveness Act.

Bell Atlantic Corp. (NYSE: BEL) is
at the forefront of the new
communications, entertainment and information industry. In the
mid-Atlantic region, the company is the premier provider of local
telecommunications and advanced services. Globally, it is one of the
largest investors in the high-growth wireless communication
marketplace. Bell Atlantic also owns a substantial interest in
Telecom Corporation of New Zealand and is actively developing
high-growth national and international business opportunities in all
phases of the industry.

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