Sonoma’s Perdue honored by Corning Community College

Local Sonoma resident, William “Lew” Perdue III has been named the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient at Corning Community College in Corning, N.Y. This award is given annually to a CCC alumnus and recognizes the lifetime career and community achievements of the individual, according to a press release from the college. The award was presented at the 50th commencement ceremony on May 22.
“This is the first time I’ve been back in 34 years and while it hasn’t changed a great deal, it’s nice to see that the college has grown from a community college to a regional college that is now part of the SUNY system,” said Perdue.
In terms of the award bestowed, Perdue felt “overwhelmed and a bit embarrassed as there were many other people as or more distinguished” who could have been honored.
“I’ve certainly led an interesting and eclectic life but not necessarily distinguished,” said Peudue. “But Corning Community College is not your average two-year school, and if I represent the kinds of people that come out of an exceptional institution, then I’ll accept that.”
While at CCC, Perdue earned the college’s first 4.0 GPA. He graduated with distinction in 1970 with an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences: Mathematics & Sciences. He then transferred to Cornell University where he studied physics and biology. He received his B.S. with distinction, graduating sixth in his class in 1972.
Perdue has founded four companies including a wine importer/wholesaler, a magazine and two technology firms. He founded Wine Business Insider in 1991, followed three years later by Wine Business Monthly, based locally on the corner of First Street West and West Napa Streets. Both publications were sold in 1997, but remain the dominant publications for the North American wine business.
Perdue has served as a top aide to a U.S. Senator and a state governor, run political races for Congress and worked as a Washington correspondent (Ottawa/Dow-Jones, States News Service). In 1997 he became a correspondent for CBS Marketwatch and a columnist for The Street.Com. Later, he worked as a columnist for the Wall Street Journal Online. In 1999, Perdue founded Pocketpass, an Internet micropayments and content sales system that went public in 2005.
Perdue has served on the faculties at UCLA and Cornell University and is the author of 20 published books, including several bestsellers, and has been a full-time book author since 2005.
Perdue has spent his time in New York visiting with friends and old professors at both Corning Community College and Cornell. He said that his Cornell professors like to get transfers from CCC because these students are focused on what they want to do. And, at a time when some institutions are struggling, CCC is thriving with increased enrollment due, in part, to recent lay-offs at the nearby Corning Glass Works.
“I’ve enjoyed my visit and was surprised and honored to receive the award but am ready and eager to be back home in Sonoma,” said Perdue.