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2022 Inductees
Contributors
Featured
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.
The VIA Heritage Association honors this VIA Alumna who dedicated her career to pushing forward the frontier of mathematics.
“Carl” was memorialized at the time of his death as "a renaissance man” who moved skillfully between music, television, theatre, film, nightclubs and concert halls in the U.S., the Americas, Europe and Asia.
Athletes
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Can you believe, a stellar baseball & basketball athlete and honor student, Dr. CB Claiborne was invited to a reception at the White House after being selected as one of 121 “Presidential Scholars.”
Coaches
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There are several Paulette Walker Johnsons, but there is only one Paulette Walker Johnson that is synonymous with Peabody High School and the VSU Woo-Woos.
2021 Inductees
Contributors
Featured
At Armstrong High, Randall Robinson was an exemplary student who participated in many school activities.
Max was active in many school activities: Student Council, sports editor of the school newspaper, student mayor of the City of Richmond, award winner in chemistry and “All State” in the VIA’s Dramatic Festival.
Dr. Ronald Mickens took an early interest in science, took classes during the summer months and graduated from Peabody High School at the age of 17.
At Armstrong High, Dr. William Harris was senior class president, honor student and award winner in science and mathematics.
At Armstrong High, Dr. Wesley Harris excelled in academics and athletics and was Student Council President in his senior year.
Dr. Fauntleroy has been widely recognized for her commitment to young people and dedication to public education.
Athletes
Featured
Walter Ward is considered to be the best all-around basketball player in the history of Phenix High School.
J. Maurice Hawkins was a four-sport standout in basketball, baseball, football and track and field.
Warren Dance was considered to be one of the finest all-around athletes in the history of Armstrong High School.
2020 Inductees
Contributors
Featured
Growing up in a musically talented family, Jonathan joined Peabody High’s marching band in the 8th grade.
Reverend Andrew White was born in King and Queen County. He attended the Rappahannock Industrial Academy for one year and graduated from Beverly Allen High School in 1949.
Melvin Stith grew up on a family farm in rural Jarratt, VA in Sussex County. He received a B.S. degree in Sociology from Norfolk State University (NSU) in 1968.
Valedictorian of her high school graduating class, Ms. Rudd received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Virginia State University and an Ed. D in higher education from William and Mary (1978). She is believed to be the youngest African American to receive a doctorate from the university.
Among his activities at Peabody High, Mr. Omilami played football and was a member of the Drama Club, igniting his interest in acting.
Athletes
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Wheeler Hughes was a well-rounded student who was elected Vice President of the Student Council and was one of Virginia’s best high school basketball players.
As a high school student, Donald Culpepper participated in football, track, and basketball.
Arthur Ashe, Jr. began playing tennis in the segregated public parks in his hometown of Richmond, VA.
Coaches
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Carnis Poindexter grew up in northwest Roanoke and lived across from the Upper-Springwood Park tennis courts.
Dr. Robert W. Johnson’s work to improve access to the sport of tennis greatly facilitated the development of tennis as a competitive sport in the Virginia Interscholastic Association.
Coach Harold Deane, Sr. graduated from Lucy Addison High in 1956. During his senior year his basketball team was VIA Group I Basketball Tournament Runner-up.
2019 Inductees
Contributors
Featured
Judge Roger Gregory attended Peabody High School until the end of his junior year when Virginia’s public schools were fully integrated.
William Albert (W. A.) Brown’s career as a teacher and administrator in Virginia’s segregated schools is representative of the successes achieved by African American teachers within the system of “separate and unequal” public education.
Athletes
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Louis Harris was a “Straight A” student who was captain of the baseball, football and basketball teams for four years.
Fred Sawyer was a scholar-athlete who learned the value of hard work in the classroom, respect for others and good sportsmanship.
Warren Canada was an all-around athlete who participated in football, basketball and track and field. He was team captain in football and basketball.
Benny Brown was a VIA Group III All State point guard on Carter G. Woodson’s 1955 and 1956 State Championship Basketball teams.
Charles Bonaparte was a high achieving academic student who participated in a full range of school activities and was one of the best high school basketball players in Virginia.
Coaches
Featured
Carl Peal was a versatile coach of football, basketball, golf and baseball at Peabody High in Petersburg, VA.
As a youth Coach James Earley was an all-around athlete at Dunbar High (Lynchburg) where he played on VIA Group I State Championship Basketball Teams in 1937 and 1938.
Coach Willard Bailey won more games than any football coach in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) history.
2018 Inductees
Contributors
Featured
Dr. Earls is a 1960 Graduate of Crestwood High in Chesapeake, Va. He began his career with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1965.
This aviation pioneer was an honor student who graduated third in the class of 1958 at Mary N. Smith High.
Athletes
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Jerry Venable completed his high school basketball career with the highest scoring single game (61 points) and the highest scoring average per season.
Before a 45-year coaching career, Jim Lewis was an All-state basketball player on Parker-Gray’s 1963 VIA Group II State runner-up.
Earl Faison attended Carver High for one year before transferring to Huntington where he excelled in football, basketball and track.
Carter G. Woodson High was a basketball power in the mid to late 1950s. Joseph Bradley was a key player on teams which won consecutive VIA Group III State Championships from 1954 to 1959.
Sheer determination was the key to the accomplishment of Ron Bolton’s childhood dream to be a professional football player.
Coaches
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This 1947 graduate of Huntington High coached 31 years and compiled more than 350 wins at three high schools.
As head basketball coach at Parker-Gray High School from 1952-1965 Arnold Thurmond compiled a record of 214- 87.
As a high school athlete, Eugene Thompson played football, baseball and track and field.
Coach Hamilton was born in Shamrock, Florida and graduated from Pamlico County High School in Bayboro, NC in 1948.
2017 Inductees
Contributors
Featured
Athletes
Featured
Charles Price was a 1941 graduate of Parker-Gray High in Alexandria and a 1945 graduate of Virginia State College (now University).
Marty Miller is a 1964 graduate of Langston High in Danville. He competed in basketball and baseball where he had a .684 batting average his senior year and a career average of .513.
Milbert Megginson was a five foot 10 inch point guard for the Dunbar Fighting Poets in the final years of VIA completion.
Mattie was an outstanding defensive player who dominated play with steals, blocked shots and overall quickness that matched many boys of her age.
Coaches
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Mr. Waters is fondly remembered as an outstanding coach, teacher and mentor to his many students. He passed in July 2003.
Dr. Walter Lovett is a 1947 graduated from George P. Phenix High School, Hampton in 1947 and Virginia State University (VSU) in 1951.
Howard “Hank” Allen was born in Dolphin, VA, attended public schools in Englewood, NJ and graduated from Hampton Institute (now University).
2016 Inductees
Contributors
Ernest Shaw
Media
Calvin Jacox
Media
Clarence Jones
VIA and VHSL
James Hayes
Music
George Peterson, Jr.
Principal, Armstrong High Richmond
Elmer F. Sampson
Band, Burley and Albemarle Highs, Charlottesville
Special Recognition:
Armstrong-Walker Football Classic
Richmond
Athletes
Donald L. Ross, Jr.
Armstrong High School, Richmond
Basketball
Earl Frances Lloyd
Parker-Gray High School, Alexandria
Basketball
Roosevelt Brown
Jefferson High, Charlottesville (1947)
Football
Joseph Buggs
Huntington High, Newport News (1956)
Multisport
Benita Fitzgerald Moseley
Gar-Field High, Dale City (1979)
Track and Field
Jesse H. Jefferson, Jr.
Carver High, Chesterfield County (1968)
Baseball
Walter A. Bowser
Huntington High, Newport News (1967)
Multisport
Bryant L. Stith
Brunswick High School (1988)
Basketball
Charles E. Stukes
Crestwood High, Chesapeake (1963)
Football
Louvenia Johnson
Luther P. Jackson High, Merrifield (1963)
Multisport
Raymond Pollard
Huntington High, Newport News (1964)
Track and Field
Coaches
Thad Madden
Huntington High, Newport News
Maxie Robinson, Sr.
Armstrong High, Richmond
Arthur “Stretch” Gardner
Maggie Walker High, Richmond
Robinette Hayes
Carter G. Woodson High, Hopewell
Carl Pinn
Dunbar High, Lynchburg
Robert W. Smith
Burley High, Charlottesville
George W. Quarles
Crestwood High, Chesapeake
Fredrick T. Cooper
Maggie L. Walker High School, Richmond
George Lancaster
West End, Mecklenburg
William W. Lawson, Jr.
Peabody High, Petersburg