Jackson P. Burley High, Charlottesville (1965)

James “Jimmy” Hollins was born on June 21, 1947, in the city of Charlottesville and was reared by parents who wanted the best for him and from him. In 1965 Jimmy graduated from VIA Group I, Jackson P. Burley High School in Charlottesville VA. At Burley Jimmy was active in academics and extra curricula activities to include football and band. After graduation he went to trade school and then into the United States Army where he served in Vietnam. After discharge from the military he went to work for Amtrak from where he retired.

Always curious and interested in his surroundings Hollins began to think about things that would improve the community as well as things to keep the spirit of Jackson P. Burley alive. On January 27, 2007 four former Burley High School athletes, Donald Byers, Jimmy Hollins, George Lindsey and Beverly McCullough, came together to form the Burley Varsity Club. The club wanted to make a difference in the community and wanted to give back to their former school which closed in 1967. James Hollins has been and still is passionate about not letting Jackson P. Burley be forgotten. Under his leadership, he has managed several events, programs, and fundraisers to keep and maintain the history of Burley alive. One accomplishment that was well recognized was the building of a $90,000 Monument Historic Wall honoring Burley High.

As Chairman of the VIA Heritage Association, Inc., Jimmy has lived up to the mission of the VIAHA, which is “to honor the rich heritage and legacy of African Americans in sports, academics, medicine, law, politics, music and other achievements under the direction of the Virginia Interscholastic Association from 1954-1970.”