Reception Held to Honor le Roux
January 16, 2012
The Daily Reflector
A reception was held at Eastern Carolina Vocational Center (ECVC) on Jan. 5 in honor of retired Chief Executive Officer Daneel le Roux.
Le Roux became president of the company in 1982 and served in that capacity until 2010, when he was named CEO. He took a struggling company in the 1980's and forged a path of success for ECVC, which has a mission of helping people with disabilities "attain a higher quality of life through achievement of their vocational goals."
Le Roux leaves behind a company that is self-sustained with many successes shown through awards and community job placements that are among the highest in the state.
Born in South Africa, le Roux came to the United States in 1947 to finish high school. After college, including Holmes Bible College, missionary work and teaching positions, he came to Pitt County in 1965 to be near his wife's family. He worked as a writer for Encyclopedia Britannica and at Beaufort Community College.
He became president of ECVC in 1982.
Le Roux introduced an entrepreneurial philosophy to ECVC, a private, not-for-profit corporation, that before had struggled to survive on grants.
Le Roux was named the 2010 Citizen of the Year by the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce and on Dec. 28 was chosen as the 2011 Hugh's News Man of the Year. In 2010, he also received the Milton Cohen Leadership Award, presented by the National Industries for the Severely Handicapped.
He has been a Rotary Club member for 40 years and received numerous honors, including Outstanding Rotarian in District 7720 (1999); Rotarian of the Year in 1999 and 2002; Rotarian of the Year, Area 6, District 7720 (2009); and Rotary International Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service (2009). He has served as district governor for Rotary International (2006-07) and Rotary International chairman, District 7720 (2007-10).
The history of ECVC is being written by local historian Roger Kammerer. The book, which will be available this spring, will look at ECVC prior to and under le Roux's leadership.
