The Virginia Tech Alumni Association honored alumnus Eugene "Gene" E. Fife with its 2005 Alumni Distinguished Service Award during the university’s Founders Day celebration May 13-14.

The Virginia Tech Alumni Distinguished Service Award is given annually by the university’s alumni association to recognize outstanding service to the university and the association.

Fife, a native of Hinton, W.Va., is a retired general partner of Goldman Sachs & Co. In 1988, he was named chairman of Goldman Sachs International where he played a pivotal role in establishing the firm in Europe, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. He joined the Goldman Sachs Management Committee in 1990, and continued to hold these positions until his retirement in 1995. During this time, political and economic changes in the European Community dramatically changed. Goldman Sachs’ success in these markets contributed significantly to the firm’s emergence as a premier global investment-banking firm.

Also during his 25-year career with the firm, Fife was resident partner of the San Francisco office where he participated in building the firm’s initial investment banking presence on the West Coast.

Following retirement from Goldman Sachs, Fife founded Vawter Capital, LLC, a private investment firm in Charlottesville, Va. He remains a senior director of Goldman Sachs.

Fife is the non-executive chairman of Eclipsys Corporation, a leading provider of medical information software used by more than 1,500 healthcare facilities. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Caterpillar Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. He heads the Audit Committee at Caterpillar and has participated in a number of forums and conferences regarding business ethics and corporate governance issues.

Throughout his career, Gene has participated in a range of activities reflecting his interests in business, government, education, and healthcare. He is a member of the Governing Council of the Miller Center, the University of Virginia based public affairs center. He serves on the operating board of the University of Virginia Medical Center and is a trustee of Berea College in Kentucky, Concord College in West Virginia, and St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville. He also is a member of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, a non-profit organization that is committed to educating state leaders and the public about higher education's vital role in Virginia's economy. In addition, he has served Virginia Tech as a member of the Virginia Tech Foundation Board and the Virginia Tech Foundation Executive Committee. The foundation and the university have prospered through Fife’s leadership in a number of other university associations. He has been a member of the Campaign Steering Committee and is a benefactor of the Ut Prosim Society. Fife also funds scholarships for students from Hinton, W.Va.

Fife received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Virginia Tech in 1962. He earned his master's from the University of Southern California in 1968 and served as an officer of the United States Air Force. The father of four children, Fife resides in Charlottesville with his wife, Anne.

First held in 1972, Founders Day is Virginia Tech's annual celebration of academic and professional achievements of its students, faculty, staff and alumni. This year, Founders Day was held in conjunction with spring Commencement ceremonies.

Share this story