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alumni spotlight
Joshua P. Darden, Jr. ’54
“I
f you don’t worry about who is getting the credit, it’s amazing what you can accomplish in life.” With these words at the core of every philanthropic endeavor, Josh Darden ’54, an active member of the Charlottesville and Hampton Roads communities, is currently number one on Inside Business: The Hampton Roads Business Journal’s Power List. After graduating from EHS, Darden attended the University of Virginia and later spent a brief time in the Army. He then returned home to Norfolk and began working at his father’s Chevrolet dealership. Darden spent his entire career in the automobile industry owning 11 different automobile franchises over the years and, in 1986, winning Time magazine’s National Quality Dealer Award as the Automobile Dealer of the Year. He served as rector of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia from 1987-90 and chaired a $1 billion campaign for U.Va. from 1993-97. He also chaired the Governor’s Commission on Transportation for the 21st Century from 1984-86. In addition, Darden has served as chair of the Norfolk Academy Board of Trustees, founding president of the Tidewater Scholarship Foundation, board vice president for Norfolk International Terminals, trustee of Colonial Williamsburg, board member of the Greater Norfolk Corporation, and vice president of the Hampton Roads Partnership. In 1994, he was named First Citizen of Norfolk, and he currently serves on the Hampton Roads Community Foundation Board of Directors. Darden founded the Civic Leadership
Institute, which connects proven leaders through service to improve life in Hampton Roads. He also co-founded the ACCESS College Foundation, a program that strives to make higher education accessible and attainable for public high school students in South Hampton Roads. Since 1988, more than 70,000 Hampton Roads students have benefited from an ACCESS program. His most recent project is The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Norfolk. Founded by a $1.6 billion gift left by Joan Kroc, wife of McDonald’s Founder Ray Kroc, the center offers exercise facilities, music lessons, computer classrooms, and community meeting spaces. There are currently 11 Kroc Centers in cities across the country, and the new Hampton Roads center will increase this number to 12. Norfolk’s Kroc Center, a super community center, will provide guaranteed funding for jobs, programs,
scholarship, and other initiatives related to health and wellness, education, and the performing arts. Darden set a goal to raise $28 million for the construction and endowment of the new center, and The Salvation Army agreed to match his fundraising efforts. Construction for the center began this fall. As a student on the Hill, Darden was a member of the undefeated 1953 varsity football team that was inducted into the Episcopal Athletics Hall of Fame this year. He was also on the track team, a waiter, and a member of the Chapel Committee, the “E” Club and “Whispers.” Darden’s generosity to the community is easily recognizable in his support and dedication to The High School. In 1986, he established the Joshua P. Darden, Jr. Scholarship for minority students and from 1991-93, he served as a Trustee. n
Josh Darden ’54 at the Athletics Hall of Fame luncheon. He was a member of the undefeated 1953 football team that was inducted this year.
EHS
The Magazine of Episcopal High School
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