Imagine coming to your first Rotary meeting and discovering you are on a membership ballot. Gary Boswick had expressed an interest in joining Rotary to his friend, John Padgett. He and John had coached their sons on various baseball teams over the years.

 

Gary grew up in Hampton. After high school, he thought he would go just a few miles up the road to the College of William & Mary until Hampden-Sydney College made him an offer he couldn’t resist—not only a scholarship but also the ability to play on the college’s soccer team, something which would not have happened at W & M.

 

He began his business career in the commercial division at Wachovia Bank in Winston-Salem before the days of interstate banking. In 1990, he moved to Norfolk and eventually went to work at Legg Mason. Today, Gary is a Private Wealth Banker with BB & T.  

 

Gary met his wife Christine when he was a senior at Hampden-Sydney, and they married in 1989. Today they are an empty-nest couple with sons Weston at the University of Mary Washington studying Global Information Systems and Thomas at UVA with a double major in French and Global Security. Weston and Thomas will graduate from their respective colleges in May and are applying for graduate school.

 

When his sons were little, he coached Little League baseball. One of Gary’s favorite memories is taking his son’s T-ball team to play a game on the White House lawn. They had been told not to pester President George W. Bush for autographs….but President Bush who came out to watch the game brought a pen and encouraged interaction with the youth. 

 

Today, Gary continues his athletic prowess playing tennis three times a week. He also plays in a volleyball league in Virginia Beach, loves boating and kayak fishing. Gary serves on the boards of Physicians for Peace and the Red Cross of Coastal Virginia and is a Deacon at First Presbyterian Church.

 

One thing that impresses him about our club is how after leading the club, the past presidents stay engaged with the club, involved in committee activities and sometimes serving on the board. He enjoys the community service activities and believes it is a great way to get to know his fellow Rotarians.