ABOUT DON MERRICKS

Don Merricks is a lifelong resident of Pittsylvania County and the 16th District. He was born and raised in the Mount Hermon community where he still resides with his wife of 33 years, Patti. They have two children that both graduated from Tunstall High School. Lori works in public relations in Birmingham, AL and D. is the director of the Wesley Foundation at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, MS.

Merricks is a 1970 honor graduate of Tunstall High School, earned an associate degree in business from Danville Community College in 1972 and a bachelor’s degree in business from Averett University in 1974. In 1991, he received a master’s degree in business administration from Averett and has also completed the School for Bank Administration through the University of Wisconsin.

Merricks worked in tobacco fields growing up alongside his twin brother, Ron and older brother, Jay, where they learned the value of a dollar and of a hard day’s work. Later, they worked alongside their father at the wholesale hardware business, Pittsylvania Hardware on Monument Street in Danville.

Later, Merricks spent 25 years in banking, starting as a teller at Schoolfield Bank and Trust in Danville. He became branch manager, and when he left First Virginia Bank-Piedmont, he was executive vice president.

Since 1997, Merricks and his wife Patti have owned and operated J.W. Squire Company, Inc., a building specialty company in Danville. They most recently acquired RiverCity Specialties & Interiors (formerly known as The Paint Store) in Danville.

Merricks is a former chairman of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce, and helped lead the county and city chambers through their merger.

Don Merricks with son D. and grandson Isaiah.

A former president of the board of directors of the Danville Association for Retarded Citizens, he also served on the Salvation Army Advisory Board, and chaired the capital campaign that raised money to build a new community center.

He serves on the board of directors of Danville-Pittsylvania County United Way and the Community Foundation of the Dan River Region. He is also the incoming president of the Danville Host Lion's Club.

Merricks also is a member of the boards of directors of Pittsylvania County Economic Development, Virginia Bank and Trust, and Mount Hermon Volunteer Fire Department.

He also serves on the Danville Community College Educational Foundation, and is chairman of the deacons and a Sunday school teacher at Mount Hermon Baptist Church.