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

We give you 60 plus images from an epic evening saluting Lawrence Douglas Wilder. 📷 Photos by Lauren Victoria Burke

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.

Virginia’s 66th Governor and 35th Lt. Governor, L. Douglas Wilder, has fun at an event in his honor on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024 entitled National Ovation to L. Douglas Wilder in Washington, D.C. Above Wilder is seen with Norfolk State President Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston and her husband Dmitri Gaston.

At an epic gathering on the night of Jan. 20, 2024 in Washington, DC, Virginia’s most influential educators, elected leaders and political power players across generations gathered to honor Virginia’s 66th Governor, L. Douglas Wilder, for over 70 years of public service. Above: Speaker Don Scott, U.S. Mark Warner, State Senator Lamont Bagby and Gov. L. Douglas Wilder.

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.

Wilder greets his fans. Noted attorney Pleasant S, Brodnax, III greets Maryland’s historic Governor Wes Moore.

Gov. Wilder shares a laugh and a photo with Al Dwoskin and others.

Norfolk State University President Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston, her husband Dmitri Gaston, left, and Wilder, right.

Two of Virginia’s legends in the same photo: Congressman Bobby Scott with his former colleague in the Virginia Senate, Wilder.

Signs of a special evening: The third poster from left promotes a new documentary on Wilder entitled, L. DOUGLAS WILDER: BEYOND WILDER DREAMS, were broadcast during dinner. The documentary premiered in Richmond on January 17th.

Gov. Wilder is greeted by Democratic Party of Virginia Chairwoman Susan Swecker, who also shares a photo with Congressman Bobby Scott and Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan.

The “Scotts” in Virginia’s Leadership: Speaker Don Scott, the Majority Leader of the Virginia Senate Scott Surovell and Congressman Bobby Scott.

Virginia's senior Senator Mark Warner with State Senator Angelia Williams Graves of Norfolk and Delegate Michelle Maldonado of Prince William.

Wilder spent the four hour evening greeting acquaintances from all sectors of the Commonwealth of Virginia including law, education and politics. Gov. Wes Moore sat across from Wilder at the head table. Congressman Scott shared a photo with Maryland Assemblyman Phillips Scott of Baltimore.

Richmond Urban League Young Professionals President Jer’Mykeal McCoy takes a photo with Wilder and Maryland’s Gov. Wes Moore greets Courtney McCargo and Congresswoman McClellan. Portsmouth City Councilman Vernon Tillage, Jr. takes a photo with a legend.

Congressman Scott talks to Dwayne Yancey, Editor at the wildly successful Cardinal News and author of When Hell Froze over: The Untold Story of Doug Wilder : A Black Politician's Rise to Power in the South, which chronicled Wlder’s historic 1989 run for Governor of Virginia. Below: HBCU Chiefs Dr. Makola Abdullah of Virginia State and Norfolk State President Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston

A look at the Washington Hilton’s International Ballroom on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024 during A National Ovation: A Tribute to L. Douglas Wilder.

National Urban League President Marc Morial and his wife Michelle Miller, with Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S Dept. of Education Dr. Bernadine Futrell and her husband, former Virginia House of Delegates member Michael Futrell. The Futrells greet Rep. Scott and Gov. Wilder.

The Washington Hilton’s International Ballroom also hosts the annual White House Correspondents Dinner.

Speaker Don Scott, U.S. Senator Mark Warner, State Senator Lamont Bagby, Gov. Wilder and VCU’s Wilder School Dean Dr. Susan Gooden.

Former U.S. House Sgt. at Arms and the 23rd Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard and retired Maj. Gen. William Walker, the program and the lobster, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine and Speaker Scott with Gov. Wilder.

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.

Front and back cover of the program book.

Above and below: A few pages from the program book which included a career time line, quotes and various historic images from Wilder’s career.

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.