McEva R. Bowser, former Richmond School Board member
Those who knew her best describe McEva Roach Bowser as kind and gentle. “But she was also demanding,” said her younger sister, Martha R. Lancaster. “She always demanded that we do the right thing, whatever we were doing.” Mrs. Bowser shared that uncompromising passion as a wife, mother, educator, Richmond School Board member and community servant.
Personality: Mary Alice Nesbitt
Mary Alice Nesbitt purposefully walks from the kitchen to the fellowship hall, then back to the kitchen at Centenary United Methodist Church in Downtown. The 84-year-old North Side resident is on a love-driven mission to help feed the city’s hungry. She has volunteered for the past 30 years to help prepare and serve meals at the Grace Street church led by the Rev. Matt Bates.
Barksdale a ‘first’ as NBA All-Star
The 1951 and 1952 All-Star games were all white, although the league had admitted four African-Americans in 1950 — Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd, Sweetwater Clifton and Hank DeZone. Another Barksdale “first:” He was the first African-American to play basketball against the University of Kentucky in Lexington. In 1948, Barksdale played for the AAU Phillips 66ers in an outdoor exhibition in Lexington against Coach Adolph Rupp’s Kentucky Wildcats. Rupp, coach of the 1948 Olympic team, was so impressed with Barksdale that he selected him for the U.S. team. Later in life, Barksdale became a popular disc jockey and was the first African- American to host a TV show in the San Francisco Bay area on KRON-TV with Sepia Review. Don Barksdale died in 1993 at age 69.
VSU to go all the way in CIAA tournament?
Flip a coin. That may be as good a way as any to predict the winner for the 70th CIAA men’s basketball tournament that commences Feb. 24 in Charlotte, N.C. There is no clear dominant team this winter and Time Warner Cable Arena has proven to be an equal opportunity venue since the tournament set up shop there in 2006.
3 VUU legends to be inducted into CIAA Hall of Fame
Three Virginia Union University luminaries will be inducted into the CIAA John B. McLen- don Jr. Hall of Fame. They are Dr. Allix B. James, president emeritus of VUU; James Battle, former VUU athletic director; and former Panthers basketball star Ben Wallace. They will be inducted into the Hall of Fame along with six others during the CIAA Tournament in Charlotte during a ceremony 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at the Charlotte Convention Center.
Former Va. first lady learns her fate Friday
Will Maureen G. McDonnell be the first former first lady of Virginia to be sentenced to prison? U.S. District Court Judge James R. Spencer will determine that Friday, Feb. 20, when Mrs. McDonnell appears before him for sentencing in the federal corruption case that has gained the national spotlight.
Historic City Council celebration at Hippodrome
African-Americans took control of the levers of city political power almost 38 years ago and changed Richmond. It was 1977, and for the first time in the city’s history, five of the nine members of City Council were African-Americans. And as a result, the new majority was able to elect one member, Henry L. Marsh III, as Richmond’s first African-American mayor since the city’s founding in 1782.
Dr. Bedden leaving?
Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Dana T. Bedden may be on his way out. The Free Press has learned that he is competing for a higher paying superintendent’s job in a larger school district outside of Virginia.
Rare book, diary related to ‘12 Years’ author on display
When officials at the Earl Gregg Swem Library at The College of William & Mary purchased a 1902 diary from an unknown author in 2009 for their special collections unit, they had no idea they had made an historical connection. William & Mary student Lauren Wallace was assigned to research the diary in 2012 and her work eventually led to the discovery that the diary was written by Florence Barber.
NAACP Image Award has Richmond connection
Hundreds of African-American students are becoming doctors, nurses, dentists and medical researchers, thanks to university alliances Dr. Louis W. Sullivan created in Richmond and elsewhere. That is just one of the achievements of the pioneering 81-year-old physician, educator and health advocate whose autobiography, “Breaking Ground: My Life in Medicine,” was just named the winner of the 2015 NAACP Image Award for nonfiction.
Atlanta Hawks score with 3 Virginia standouts
If you’re searching for reasons to get pumped up about the soaring Atlanta Hawks, here are three: • Assistant Coach Kenny Atkinson, a former University of Richmond star. • Guard-forward Kent Bazemore, an ex-Old Dominion University standout. • Forward Mike Scott, a former University of Virginia Wahoo. With these links to the state and area, the Hawks have been the NBA’s surprise franchise this winter, posting a 42-9 record that featured a 19-game winning streak through Feb. 7.
Former L.C. Bird football star is college team catalyst
When Nassau County, N.Y., Community College needed big yardage this past football season, they gave the ball to Yahkee Johnson. “Yahkee was our catalyst. That’s who we went to in crunch time,” said Nassau Coach Joe Osovet. “He’s not only a dynamic performer, but also a great person.” Johnson was a ringleader this past fall in Nassau’s undefeated football season.
Petersburg city attorney gets lesson in First Amendment
Citizens no longer will be barred from addressing Petersburg City Council solely because they owe money to the city. City Attorney Brian Telfair notified the ACLU of Virginia that the prohibition would be lifted, the constitutional watchdog group announced Tuesday. Mr. Telfair issued the response after the Richmond-based group demanded an end to the practice that he previously had deemed legal. “This prohibition violates the First Amendment and must be rescinded immediately,” Rebecca K. Glenburg, legal director of the Virginia ACLU, wrote to Mr. Telfair in a letter issued Feb. 5.
Richmond jail diversion showing results
The figures reflect the stepped-up efforts by the courts, prosecutors, police, government officials and community service providers to use less costly approaches to justice than jail. The impact on the population at the new Richmond Justice Center is evident. On Monday, Jan. 26, Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. reported holding 1,126 inmates, or 240 fewer than the 1,366 people who were being held in the old City Jail on the same day in 2014.
Fundraising growing at VSU
A $200,000 check shows Dr. Pamela V. Hammond is keeping her promise to rev up fundraising at Virginia State University. The university’s interim president received the contribution from the foundation of Thompson Hospitality Inc., which offers food service and catering at VSU’s Gateway Center.
Petersburg council to revisit jail closure plan
Will the Petersburg City Jail close as Mayor W. Howard Myers has announced? Stay tuned. Mayor Myers is facing a Petersburg City Council revolt over his announcement last week that the jail closing is a done deal and that arrestees would be housed outside the city at Riverside Regional Jail beginning March 1.
Personality: Maj. Daniel T. Fox III
Maj. Daniel Tré Fox III seeks to open musical doors to students as others did for him when he was a student in Richmond Public Schools. The 33-year-old vocal instructor at Franklin Military Academy in Church Hill sees the power of music as a bridge to uplift and mold young men and women.
VUU Panthers win game ahead of CIAA tourney
They’re toes are wiggling. After losing 10 games in succession in December and January, Virginia Union University’s basketball Panthers are showing evidence of recovery.
VUU’s Jones is burning up the track, aiming for Olympics
In years to come, law breakers will need to be in tiptop shape if they try to flee on foot from C’evon Jones. Pronounced “Say-Von,” C’evon is a junior criminal justice major and aspiring policewoman at Virginia Union University. She’s also among the fastest women in America.
JeQuan Lewis brings it for VCU in Weber’s absence
When the credits roll for Virginia Commonwealth University basketball, JeQuan Lewis is no longer among the supporting cast. The Tennessean with the distinctive fade haircut has popped up as a leading man for coach Shaka Smart’s short-handed but still Atlantic 10-leading Rams.
