Daily News-Record
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Neff Earns MS Society's Silver Hope Award
Ex-Mayor Named For Community Efforts
By Heather Bowser
HARRISONBURG - John N. Neff has two major heroes that have guided his life - Jesus Christ and Walt Disney.
As a part-time pastor for Grottoes Church of the Brethren, the first hero's a given, he said. And Disney? Well, that one's nearly an obsession.
"My wife and I go to Disney World three times a year," said Neff, 56, of Harrisonburg. "Walt Disney was a visionary. He could see through all the stages of a project in his mind before [the project] even began."
By following the teachings of his heavenly hero and the business mind of his Mickey-loving pal, Neff says he has found success in his life.
Over the years, Neff has served on a host of local boards, councils and foundations. He served a term as the mayor of Harrisonburg. And, for nearly four decades, he has worked as a chief administrator at Nielsen Builders Inc.
He has a wife, two children and lots of happiness.
Tonight, the Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will honor Neff with the Silver Hope Award, the society's highest honor given annually to outstanding individuals who are "champions in their own communities," according to a release from the society.
Past honorees include the late Zane Showker, Charles Wampler Jr., Richard Morin, Ronald Carrier, T. Carter Melton, Rodney Eagle, Phillip Stone, Linwood Rose, Pablo Cuevas, Francis Bell Jr., Wes and Glenna Graves, Richard "Dick" Lyons and Joseph Funkhouser, II.
Once Upon A Time
Neff began his Disney-loving life here in the Friendly City, where he was born and raised.
The Neff family, he said, has lived here a long time, but no, he's not one of "those" Neffs, the famous ones with streets and businesses named after them.
After his years as a Blue Streak at Harrisonburg High School, Neff graduated in 1970 and became a Virginia Tech Hokie.
In the summers, Neff returned to Harrisonburg to work as a mason and apprentice carpenter for Nielsen, which is where he returned permanently after graduating from Tech.
In 1974, Neff began as a project manager. At the time, Nielsen had about 100 employees and a work volume of $15 million a year.
A year after he began working full time, he met his wife, Linda, in his church choir. He was a tenor and she was a soprano. They were married in 1977 and now have two children, Melody, who lives in Harrisonburg, and John B., who is a graduate student at Vanderbilt University.
Meanwhile, there was his cartoon amigo.
Neff's watch, most of his shirts and nearly all his ties have America's favorite mouse printed on the front. He's got mugs, stuffed animals, figurines and just about everything else imaginable with Mickey.
He's been to the theme park so many times - he guesses more than 100 - that he doesn't need a map.
"When I go, I just get on the first bus that comes and go to whatever park that bus happens to be going to," Neff said. "It's a place where I can just be a kid."
His favorite rides, by the way, include Expedition Everest in the Animal Kingdom and Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios.
"I identify most with Mickey," he said. "He's always getting himself into trouble always manages to get out. And I think Linda is Minnie because Mickey loves Minnie and Minnie loves Mickey."
Work And Service
As the years passed, Neff's involvement at his job and in the community grew.
In addition to serving on foundations, committees and church groups, Neff "basically launched" the Arts Council of the Valley and has performed in several plays in the Court Square Theatre.
In the early to mid-1990s, as a mayor and a councilman, Neff worked with Rockingham County on several initiatives, such as creating a jointly run health department.
Meanwhile, Neff oversaw major construction projects, including James Madison University's Bridgeforth Stadium and Convocation Center, Bridgewater College's hydraulic-lift swimming pool and the restoration of HHS, which is now Memorial Hall.
Today, Nielsen has 235 employees and a 2008 projected work volume of $190 million, Neff said.
For now, though, Neff says he has plans to slow down and retire soon, although he wants to work as a consultant for churches.
Contact Heather Bowser at 574-6218 or hbowser@dnronline.com
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