The West

William A.V. Cecil, Jr.
Chief Executive Office
The Biltmore Company

"When my father first returned to Asheville in the early 1960s Biltmore House was losing over a quarter million dollars annually. He was, and continues to be, determined to preserve it, as a part of his family's history and contribution to our community and, on a broader scale, as an important National Historic Landmark.

This same respect and sense of place remain at the core of our preservation mission today. As CEO of The Biltmore Company, I am charged with seeing that the estate is preserved for my children and future generations. And while my children discover this beautiful farmland - much as my sister and I did - I strive to protect the place that may come under their stewardship. May it long be a symbol for America's commitment to being the best."

William Cecil, Jr. is the current family member heading up the Biltmore Company, owner and operator of the Biltmore House and Gardens. Mr. Cecil is carrying on George Vanderbilt's tradition of a working estate, while preserving an important part of North Carolina's history.