As the typical mid- to late-semester hustle and bustle is felt throughout the grounds, you feel the need to focus on the here and now. But it's definitely more fun to look at the history of people from “then and here” – people from Virginia. All the stories of Virginia's ancestors are important, but the most fascinating are the stories of famous people. Join me as we dig deeper into the history of famous Virginians.
1. The founding father of the dollar and two fellow U.S. presidents
Founding Fathers George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison all grew up in Virginia: Washington near Fredericksburg, Jefferson on the Rivanna River, and Madison in Orange County. All three of these future U.S. presidents were raised on Virginia plantations and their iconic homes. mount vernon, monticello and montpelier — Open to the public starting today.
2. Arthur Ashe — tennis legend and civil rights champion
Arthur Ashe, the first black man to win a major tennis title, was born and raised in Richmond. When not in Richmond, he trained under his tutelage. Dr. Robert Walter “Whirlwind” Johnson on a clay court at home in Lynchburg. Here, both Ashe and Althea Gibson, fellow pioneers as black women's tennis players and five-time major champions, developed and refined the fundamentals of their play. Ashe won three major singles championships during her career, one in each. australian open, us open and Wimbledon.
3. Barber Twins — From Scott Stadium to the NFL
NFL stars and identical twins Tiki and Ronde Barber have roots in Roanoke, Virginia. The brothers began their football careers as Cavaliers on the Virginia State football team. Both earned ACC honors and enjoyed great success at Virginia before being selected in the 1997 NFL Draft. While in college, they both studied at the McIntire College of Commerce and were members of the IMP Society. Both Tiki and Ronde remained with the New York Giants and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the teams from which they were first drafted, throughout their professional careers.
4. Lewis and Clark of the Louisiana Purchase Expedition
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, the explorers famous for mapping the lands of the Louisiana Purchase, were from Albemarle and Caroline counties, respectively. The two first met in 1795 while both were officers in the U.S. Army, and developed a long-lasting friendship despite their contrasting personalities. Lewis is said to have been much more direct than the methodical Clark. The two continued their military service into his 1800s, with Clark being appointed lieutenant after resigning as captain. Nevertheless, his close friend and comrade Lewis continued to call him “co-captain”, cementing their lifelong partnership.
5. Hidden figure
Only Mary Jackson was from Hampton, Virginia, but all three “Hidden Person” — Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan — West area computer unit Langley Research Center at NACA, the predecessor to NASA, in Hampton, Virginia. Jackson led her as NASA's first black female engineer, and Johnson's calculations led to her successful 1961 Alan Shepard Mercury 7 suborbital flight and her 1969 Apollo 11 return to Earth. Ta. Vaughan was her NACA's first black director, and she later became a FORTRAN expert. Programmer — She taught herself and her staff programming languages. CS majors, what do you think?
6. Booker T. Washington, influential educator and reformer
Booker T. Washington, one of the leading African American intellectuals of the early 20th century. Tuskegee Normal Industrial InstituteWashington was born a slave in Franklin County, Virginia, in 1856. Following the publication of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, Washington and his mother moved to West Virginia, where he initially worked in a salt furnace. Washington has always had a desire to learn, and he was gradually given the opportunity to attend school. Among his many accomplishments, including his contributions as a leading black educator and his acclaimed works, most famously Escape from Slavery, Booker T. He was the first African American to be invited to a meal. A mansion built in 1901.
7. A Tale of Two Marks — One Avenger, One Jedi
Mark Ruffalo and Mark Hamill, Hulk and Luke Skywalker, respectively, spent part of their childhoods in Virginia. As a teenager, Ruffalo lived in Virginia Beach. He attended Rance Junior High School in Wisconsin, where he competed in wrestling and was the very Hulk figure, attended First Colonial High School, and acted at Patriot Playhouse. Hamill's military family moved around the country, even settling in Virginia for a time. Hamill attended elementary school, middle school, and part of high school between Williamsburg and Annandale. Along the way, Hamill grew from a child to a Padawan to a Jedi Knight.Next time I watch “New hope” Here in the Virginia dorms, remember that Luke Skywalker's origins lie in this very state.
8. Comedians Wanda Sykes and Jason Sudeikis
Stand-up comedian, actress, and author Wanda Sykes spent her childhood in Virginia. She was born in Portsmouth and lived in Virginia until her family moved to Maryland when she was in third grade. Most recently, Sykes was in Richmond for his girlfriend earlier this month. “Please and Thank You” Tour.Funny person, creator of hit shows, and famous star ted lasso, Jason Sudeikis was born in Fairfax, Virginia, and lived in the state for several years before moving to Kansas, which is also the hometown of Ted Lasso on the show. I like to think that Ted's character is infused with Virginia's spirit.
9. Moses Malone, NBA Greatest Player
Moses Malone, former center for the Utah Stars and Philadelphia 76ers; 50 greatest NBA players, grew up an hour and a half away from Charlottesville in Petersburg, Virginia. The varsity athlete led his high school basketball team, the Petersburg Crimson Wave, to an undefeated final two years, winning back-to-back Virginia state championships. Malone was the first basketball player to play professionally straight out of high school. He attended just one and a half days of college classes before accepting a five-year contract with the Stars. Next time you go cheering on his men's basketball team, he'll probably watch at least one game. future nba player.
10. Oliver W. Hill, Attorney
Oliver Hill was an African American lawyer and civil rights activist. Brown v. Board of Education Hill was born in Richmond, grew up in Roanoke, and attended law school at Howard University. Hill then returned to Richmond and became chief counsel for the Virginia NAACP. He led many legal challenges to Jim Crow, most famously in the Davis v. Prince Edward County Board of Educationone of the five cases that made up the Supreme Court in 1954. Brown v. Board of Education decision.
