From the first drug store opened in Emporia, Virginia in 1934 by GR Leath, the Leath family has strived for excellence in their businesses and to be a responsible member of the communities in which they work and live. After developing a chain of three drug stores throughout Virginia, GR Leath entered into business with his son, Wayne Leath, in the 1960s when he left the drug store business and entered into hotel development and management. Over the next 30 years, they developed, acquired, and operated nine hotels throughout Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. During this time, they were proud to have built the 25th Hampton Inn hotel in the chain in Emporia, Virginia and to have built one of the first 30 Holiday Inn hotels in the chain in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Through the vision of Wayne Leath, the Leath family continued their family business in hotel development and grew into additional areas. Leath Company was formally established in 1994 by Wayne Leath to bring the Leath family business endeavors under one management group. Today, Leath Company provides management, administrative, and support services to its companies and continues to pursue growth while honoring the heritage of excellence that GR Leath and Wayne Leath established.