Riverside Military Academy honored Philip A. Wilheit, Sr. and Ralph W. Cleveland, posthumous, at the third annual Sandy Beaver Entrepreneurial Leadership Award dinner on Thursday night.
Governor and Mrs. Nathan Deal were among the guests at the dinner held at Alumni Hall on the school's Gainesville campus.
Wilheit is president and managing partner of Wilheit Packaging, the family business started by his father, Tom Wilheit in 1954. He is known throughout the state as the campaign manager of 17 successful Congressional and gubernatorial elections for Gov. Nathan Deal. He serves on the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, is vice chair of Brenau University's Board of Trustees, is chairman of the Gainesville Hall Development Authority, and is chairman emeritus of the Northeast Georgia Health System.
Cleveland, who passed away in 1999 at the age of 92, was a New Holland native who began his career as a cotton broker. He is credited as a pioneer in the poultry feed business of northeast Georgia. He later served as chairman of Gainesville National Bank and ended his career as a self-educated and successful securities investor. Cleveland and his wife, Mary, were instrumental in the creation of Gainesville Junior College, and he served on the board of Brenau College, now University, for 40 years.
The annual award dinner supports The Riverside Military Academy Foundation and is named to honor the entrepreneurial and leadership legacy of General Sandy Beaver, Riverside president from 1912-1969.
“The vision, leadership, and philanthropic spirit that Sandy Beaver exhibited throughout his tenure as Riverside’s president are the qualities we honor in Mr. Wilheit and Mr. Cleveland,” said Col. William J. Gallagher, U.S. Army, Retired.
“We are grateful to our alumni and community members for their support for this event and making the event possible.”
