60 Photos: An Epic Bash Saluting Doug Wilder
🥳 Happy Birthday to Senator L. Louise Lucas! Happy Birthday to the first woman shipbuilder at Norfolk Navy Station, first Black woman on the Portsmouth City Council and first Black woman Chair of Virginia’s Senate Finance Committee!
🏛 See Virginia House legislative schedules here.
50 Photos: An Epic Evening Saluting a Historic Governor: L. Douglas Wilder
WASHINGTON, DC — Four Virginia Governors; four HBCU Presidents; Virginia’s first Black woman member of Congress; the Virginia House of Delegates first Black Speaker... all present, along with many others, to salute America’s first Black Governor and Virginia’s 66th Governor, L. Douglas Wilder. The epic event was hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs in partnership with Virginia Union University and Howard University.
L. Douglas Wilder Honored for 70 Years of Public Service
NATIONAL OVATION TO L. DOUGLAS WILDER BASH. The evening started with the full reading, by actor Keighton Bell, of L. Douglas Wilder’s entire inaugural address from 1990 and it ended with a toast by one of Wilder’s historic colleagues in the Virginia Senate: Congressman Bobby Scott.
It was difficult to walk around Washington’s storied Hilton Hotel, (commonly known as the “Hinkley Hilton”) between the hours of 6 to 11pm without seeing a historic figure. Virginia’s 66th Governor and the first African American Governor elected in America, Lawrence Douglas Wilder, was honored at a 2,000+ person event whose guests covered the worlds of politics, education and civic activism.
The list of notable attendees in the Hilton’s International Ballroom included all of Virginia’s HBCU Presidents; Virginia Commonwealth University President Dr. Hakim Lucas; Virginia State University President Dr. Makola Abdullah; Norfolk State President Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston and Hampton University President and retired Gen. Darrell Williams.
The Dean of Virginia’s Congressional delegation Bobby Scott, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, Congressman Don Beyer; both Virginia U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine; Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, Virginia House Majority Leader Charniele Herring, State Senator Angelia Graves Williams and Delegate Michelle Maldonado and Democratic Party of Virginia Chairwoman Susan Swecker. Former Governor Jim Gilmore, former Democratic Party of Virginia Chair; attorney and Wilder’s 1989 campaign manager Paul Goldman; Virginia Union University Board Chair Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Jason Miyares’ Chief of Staff D. J. Jordan. A number of Wilder’s family members, including his son and daughter Lawrence and Loren, were also in attendance. Veteran broadcaster Ed Gordon hosted the evening. There were too many notables to name.
There were also three bands who played at various parts of the evening including the Virginia Union University First Thursday Jazz Ensemble. We’ll let the photos below do the talking.
Support of Student Scholarships
The evening also focused on scholarships for Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.
A note from the Wilder School: The National Ovation in honor of Governor Wilder is more than an event; it’s a counterpoint to our times, a celebration of a trailblazing figure whose influence on American politics remains unparalleled. At a moment when our nation grapples with social divides and political tensions, the legacy of Governor Wilder serves as a poignant reminder of the change that visionary leadership can inspire. The National Ovation stands as a symbol of hope and a call to action, underlining the potential for positive transformation even in challenging times.
WE HAVE REACHED MORE THAN $875,000 IN SUPPORT AND COUNTING - SUPPORT "A NATIONAL OVATION" AND MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY!
A Look at the Program Book
Below are a few pages from the program book for A National Ovation to L. Douglas Wilder, in celebration of his 70 years of public service.
EPISODE 29 ➡️ The latest Black Virginia News podcast features an interview with attorney Phil Thompson on the issue of micro businesses and boutique markets for cannabis that would advantage small businesses rather than large conglomerates.
➡️ Listen to Michael Pope and Lauren Burke on the latest episode of POD VIRGINIA!
➡️ SUBSCRIBE TO BLACK VIRGINIA NEWS. “One had better die fighting against injustice than die like a dog or a rat in a trap.” —Ida Wells. 👨🏽💻 Send your press releases, submissions, tips, pitches, comments and corrections to BlackVirginiaNews@gmail.com.