Father’s Day
What wisdom did your father instill in you?
Father’s Day will be celebrated Sunday, June 19, with people across the country grilling, baking cakes and cookies and buying ties for the man who has a special place in the hearts and lives of their family. In honor of fathers everywhere, the Free Press put the following question to several people
Meet the Morrisseys
Attorney Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey took a break last weekend from his campaign to be Richmond’s next mayor to wed Myrna Warren, the young woman he went to jail for 17 months ago.
Dick Gregory to open Juneteenth celebration
Dick Gregory will be in Richmond this week to help launch the annual two-day Juneteenth celebration to mark African-American liberation from slavery.
Richmonder debuts his film June 22
While growing up in Richmond, Jai Jamison knew that he wanted to be a film director. Next week, the 30-year-old’s award-winning feature film, “Tri,” will premiere in Richmond. The film, chronicling the efforts of two female triathletes, will be shown 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, at Bow Tie Cinemas, 1310 N. Boulevard.
Lanier exhibit at Historical Society
Football great Willie Lanier is getting renewed attention. The Virginia Historical Society is hosting a special display of items related to the life of the Richmond area resident, including his Maggie L. Walker High School diploma and the Super Bowl ring he was awarded for playing on the Kansas City Chiefs’ 1970 championship team in Super Bowl IV.
Top Tony Awards won by people of color
People of color snagged the top Tony Awards for performances on Broadway stages during the past year— a sharp contrast to Hollywood’s all-white Academy Awards for movies.
Injury cleared way for championship in high jump
Before Kequan Henley ever took off as a high-flying state champion in the high jump, the tall and springy Armstrong High School student was in love with basketball. Then during his sophomore year in 2014, he suffered a significant injury. “First game of the year, I went up for a rebound and came down on my head. Knocked me out. I woke up in the hospital with a bad concussion,” he recalled.
Old-fashioned baseball reigns in the country
Baseball is losing ground in urban areas but remains a premier attraction down dusty country roads, far removed from the city’s hustle and bustle. On diamonds carved out of the woods in places like Prince George and Dinwiddie counties, old-fashioned country hardball, spiced with ample music, food and socializing, still takes center stage on warm weekends.
VCU heading South
Virginia Commonwealth University will be taking its basketball talents South during the upcoming season. Coach Will Wade’s Rams will play the University of Illinois on Dec. 3 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, home of the NBA’s Miami Heat.
VUU signs 4
Virginia Union University basketball coach Jay Butler has announced signings of four new players and suggests more may be on the way.
Former VUU football center now Roanoke’s new mayor
Sherman Lea has gone from the center of the football action at Virginia Union University to the center of the political arena in Roanoke, where he is now the mayor elect.
Willard Bailey to keynote VIAHA Hall of Fame banquet
Former Virginia Union University football Coach Willard Bailey will be the keynote speaker for the Virginia Interscholastic Association Heritage Association’s inaugural Hall of Fame Banquet.
Personality: Dr. Ram Bhagat
Spotlight on 2016 Peacemaker of the Year
Dr. Ram Bhagat is all too familiar with gun violence. After losing his younger brother at the hands of a gun in 1981, Dr. Bhagat vowed to fight gun violence through his love for drumming.
Christians respond to Orlando attack
Christians responded quickly to the shooting rampage at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando, Fla. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association immediately sent trained chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team to Orlando to offer emotional and spiritual care to victims of the attack that took place early Sunday at Pulse.
Readers recall stories, memories of ‘The Greatest’
Free Press readers have offered a host of stories and memories of the late boxing legend Muhammad Ali in the days since his death and memorial services. Clearly, many in the Richmond community have been touched by The Champ. We share a few of those stories here:
Trump rally sinks under weights
Donald Trump was expected to pack the Richmond Coliseum when he visited the city last week. After all, he has packed arenas in other cities.
Combating summer slide
‘The Books Brothers’ mobilize for book giveaway at Holton
Linwood Holton Elementary School students Jace and Jazz Miles enjoy reading so much that they wanted to spread their passion throughout the school.
Ali laid to rest in send-off ‘fit for a king’
The world watched as the life of boxing champion Muhammad Ali was celebrated last week in his hometown of Louisville, Ky.
Grief unifies nation
Richmond mourns in solidarity following Orlando massacre
In what has become all too common, several Richmond churches and community groups gathered this week to hold vigils and pray for victims of gun violence. This time, the songs of solace and tears of despair were for the slaughter unleashed Sunday morning when 29-year-old gunman Omar Mateen killed 49 people and wounded 53 others at an Orlando, Fla., nightclub frequented by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender patrons.
