14 The HBCU Advocate William Ward FROM PAGE 1


families. Senator Mark Warner said he was saddened by the news of his friend: “My deepest sympathies go out to his wife of nearly 60 years, Rose, and the rest of his family, friends, and colleagues. His strong sense of duty and service will be dearly missed.”


From local news outlets to the Associated Press, Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report and others, many mourned the passing of Chesapeake’s first African American mayor, the mayor who served the city the longest, and a true man of the people. We here at the The HBCU Advocate and The Hampton Roads Messenger observed and experienced that community service firsthand.


Angela Jones, publisher of


The HBCU Advocate and the Messenger, says she mourns the loss of a supporter and a friend who acted as Chairperson of our first anniversary celebration in 2007: “In addition to making the people he mentored feel special, Dr. Ward positively affected the lives of several hundred thousand people through his work in the city of Chesapeake and at Norfolk State University. He often made the time in his very busy schedule to attend our community events. Dr. Ward always had a kind word and an invaluable piece of advice every time I saw him. I am so grateful to his family for sharing him with all of the people he was able to help through his public service.”


“A good leader can engage in


a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger.” Nelson Mandela


Current Chesapeake Mayor


Rick West ordered the city’s flags to be flown at half mast in Ward’s honor. He told 13News Now that, in a word, Ward was a "leader," helping to shape current-day Chesapeake in many ways. West said Ward had a genuine love of the city and had the ability to work across party and race lines. That was no small talent when Dr. Ward became Chesapeake’s first African American Mayor. Hampton Roads was still simmering from Virginia Beach’s unforgettable response to Greekfest ’89 and Collins v City of Norfolk was headed to the state Supreme Court. Add to that the balancing act of a city in the midst of major change and one can see a masterful hand was needed. Dr. Ward did not disappoint.


Inclusive


Volume 2 Number 1


In 1991, The Virginia Center for Communities


presented


Mayor Ward with The Brotherhood/ Sisterhood Citation (now called the Humanitarian Award) which has been presented in Hampton Roads since 1965 to individuals, such as Maya Angelou, who promote understanding and respect across racial and religious lines.


Jonathan


C. Zur, President & CEO of the Virginia


Center Communities, explained


are selected for their personal and professional work to promote a more inclusive community.


Mayor Ward presided over a


period of explosive growth in what is now the state’s third largest city. Under his leadership, the city drew major


development projects and


international companies. Today, Chesapeake is home to more than 50 international companies. Businesses from 18 nations and a variety of industries from manufacturing and construction to software and defense make the city their home. Many say Mayor Ward built for the future of Chesapeake but always remembered and considered the history of the city and its people.


“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela


educational


Dr. Ward’s post secondary journey


began with


earning his B.A. degree in History in 1957 and M.A. degree in history in 1960 from Virginia State University. He also earned both his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in American


and


African American History in 1972 and 1977 respectively from Clark University in Worcester, MA. Further


University, Mellon


study included Hampton Carnegie


University, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica, and University of Ghana, West Africa.


Educating young people was


clearly a vocation with Dr. Ward beginning in 1959 as a history teacher at Portsmouth’s Norcom High School. In his decades with Norfolk State University (NSU) he served in many capacities. He was an active member of the Faculty Senate and served as its President between 1975-77. He served on the Faculty Senate of Virginia Benefits and Grievance Committee, and the college-wide Council of Teacher Education. For two decades, he served as the Chairman of the Martin Luther King Observance and African American History month chairman. He was responsible for bringing leading civil rights leaders of the 1970s and 1980s to NSU. He also acted as legislative liaison for


for Inclusive honorees


NSU in Richmond. In 2013, The Virginia


Education Association (VEA) bestowed Dr. Ward with a Special Fitz Turner Award in Recognition of the VEA’s 150th Anniversary. The long time educator was described by then NSU President Dr. Tony Atwater as “a legendary mayor, a man of integrity and an outstanding servant leader.”


“Without education, your


children can never really meet the challenges they will face. So it’s very important to give children education and explain that they should play a role for their country.” Nelson Mandela


Dr. Ward didn’t just educate himself and others, he urged our youth to pursue education and worked to facilitate that pursuit for many.


He has been often touted


by Hampton Roads leaders as a mentor who helped shaped their careers in public service.


Dr.


Ward didn’t just educate himself and others, he urged our youth to pursue education and worked to facilitate that pursuit for many.


mentored


Many people lauded


Dr. Ward his education


scholarship activities and said he thought it important young African American men see people like themselves in leadership roles.


Mayor Ward founded the New


Chesapeake Men for Progress Education Foundation whose goal is to improve the quality of life for Chesapeake’s youth through programs, educational


July/August 2018


were able to raise funds to help the endowment reach its goal. Here are the Cuffee Scholarship Committee’s words to Dr. Ward’s widow Rose upon his passing:


“...Dr. Ward served as the first and only Chair for this scholarship committee which began under his leadership shortly after the passing of Dr. Cuffee in 2006. It was not until, 2011 that the scholarship was endowed and financially stable to make its first scholarship award. Since the first award, 17 Norfolk State University students have received more than $75,000 in scholarships.


Dr. Ward’s dedication to this cause was evident even during the last months of his life. He called in to Chair what would be his last Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee Scholarship Committee meeting in which the 2018 recipients were determined. His leadership and kind heart will be sorely missed; however, it is our belief that Dr. Cuffee and so many other angels greeted him with open arms to say, “Well done my good and faithful servant."


“After climbing a great hill, one


only finds that there are many more hills to climb.” Nelson Mandela


Dr. Ward’s professional services,


scholarships, and mentoring. It’s educational foundation has provided $120,000 in scholarships and other student financial support. The Hampton Roads Messenger is pleased to have been a part of that effort. In 2012, Dr. Ward presented the Messenger with an award recognizing our “generous financial support” in years 2009-2012. The new leadership of the New Chesapeake Men for Progress Education


Foundation


chose Dr. Ward as the honoree for their first black tie gala in 2016 for his years of work on their, and the region’s, behalf.


The late Dr. Clarence


Cuffee, Chesapeake’s former city manager, was another lifelong proponent of education


who


dedicated his life to the service of others. He was both mentee and friend to Dr. Ward. After his passing in 2006, city employees, friends and family


honor his memory but found the details of putting such a legacy into action daunting.


affiliations included the Virginia Society for History Teachers, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, the Southern Historical Association and the Virginia Social Sciences Association. In addition, he was a 50 year member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., from Alpha Phi, Virginia State University and Sigma Pi Phi (Boule), one of the oldest African-American Greek-lettered organizations.


Dr. Ward


No matter how many times “ended”


a career path


he was always front and center in yet another opportunity to serve. Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the


following statement


from the nation’s capital: “Bill spent his entire life dedicated to the Chesapeake and Hampton Roads community. As Chesapeake’s longest serving mayor, and first and only black mayor, Bill is leaving behind a powerful legacy of bringing about positive change for the city of Chesapeake. Even when he was out of office, Bill still


found ways to constantly serve his community in a variety of ways.” Indeed, Dr. Ward


wanted to Dr. Wanda


Barnard-Bailey, Vice Chair of the Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee Endowed Scholarship Committee, said Dr. Ward came to their rescue. When Dr. Ward chaired the Messenger’s first anniversary celebration, we


said it


himself: “Public service is my thing, as you know. Give back, don’t always take. Give back to the


community that helped raise you to another level.”


“We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your


hands to make a difference.” Nelson Mandela


Nelson Mandela and Bill Ward are two men who have given us the blueprint.


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