The founder of the world's first computer virus scanner will give the keynote address at Roanoke College's graduation ceremony on May 3.

John McAfee, founder of McAfee Inc. and a 1967 graduate of Roanoke College, will address about 429 graduates at the 10 a.m. ceremony on the John Turbyfill Quadrangle. If it rains, the ceremony will be moved indoors to the Bast Center.

McAfee will also receive an honorary doctor of science degree at the ceremony.

After graduating, McAfee worked with a number of technology companies, including General Electric, Univac, Lockheed Martin, Xerox, Siemens and IBM in computer technology and management capacities.

McAfee founded Tribal Voice Inc. in 1996 and developed the world's first instant-messaging programs. He started Interpath Inc. in 1981, which developed the world's first commercial voice recognition system.

In 1988, he started McAfee Inc., which developed the world's first virus scanner. The company is worth about $370 million now.

McAfee lives in New Mexico and Belize and is developing technology programs for developing countries.

Roanoke College's baccalaureate service will be held at 4:30 p.m. on May 2 in the Bast Center. The Rev. Paul Henrickson, the college's chaplain, will be the featured speaker.

-- Marquita Brown