David Powers, Valedictorian of the Class of 1975, was a Star Leadership Award winner and voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by his class. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa at Randolph-Macon College and Alpha Omega Alpha Medical School Honor Society at the Medical College of Virginia.

David completed his internship and residency in Emergency Medicine at the Hershey Medical Center in 1986. He returned to Winchester and became the first residency trained and board certified Emergency Medicine physician at the Winchester Memorial Hospital. When he became Medical Director of the Emergency Room, he set the hiring standard that all ER physicians would be board certified. He was dedicated to providing quality healthcare in a compassionate manner in Winchester for 35 years.

He was one of the first physician volunteers at the Free Medical Clinic and served on their endowment committee. He staffed the Winchester Medical Center’s Mobile Care Unit for events such as the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival and the Battle of Cedar Creek Reenactment. He was the Advisor for the Medical Explorers at Winchester Medical Center where high school students were introduced to possible medical careers.

David provided free physicals for scouts attending camps and high adventure activities. The Shenandoah Area Council Boy Scouts of America awarded him the Silver Beaver Award and the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award for his volunteerism.

David was able to share his love of local history with everyone, especially young people. He served on the first Tourism Board for the Winchester and Frederick County area and on the Board of the Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society. He was a founding member of the Stone House Foundation at the Newtown History Center and of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefield Foundation. He was the vice-president of the Kernstown Battlefield Association from its founding until 2019.

David co-chaired the renovation of George Washington’s Office Museum in 1999. He helped organize exhibits for the Historical Society and Kurtz Cultural Center of Preservation of Historic Winchester.

Dr. David Powers will be remembered not only for his life long commitment to the health of the people in the community but also for his support of youth and his love of local history.