Where to get flu shots A2
Richmond Free Press © 2015 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
VOL. 24 NO. 40
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
www.richmondfreepress.com
ee Fr
Fr ee
Do you know the ‘Things Your Man Won’t Do’? B2
OCTOBER 1-3, 2015
A remarkable life
Dr. Allix B. James, VUU president emeritus, dies at 92 By Joey Matthews
Dr. Allix Bledsoe James wore many hats during his distinguished 70-plus years of public service to education and the community. He was a renowned educator and pastor and a trailblazer in numerous arenas. His chief loves were his family and his late wife of 67 years, Susie Nickens James, and his beloved alma mater, Virginia Union University. His distinguished career at the university started in 1947 as an instructor of biblical studies. He rose in responsibility and leadership — from dean of students to dean of the School of Theology — to serve as VUU’s seventh president from 1970 to 1979. Dr. James also made history as the first African-American to be elected president of the American Association of Theological Schools; the first to serve as Virginia region president of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, now the National Conference for Community and Justice; the first to be elected president of the Virginia State Board of Education; and the first to chair the Richmond Planning Commission. He also was the first African-American to serve on a major corporate board in Virginia — Virginia Power. Dr. James is being remembered following his death Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015. He was 92. His remarkable life will be celebrated beginning Friday, Oct. 2, with a family visitation at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 216 W. Leigh St., in Jackson Ward. Memorial tributes will be conducted at 6:30 p.m. by Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi fraternities,
Dr. Allix B. James
File photo
of which he was a member. His funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, in the chapel that bears his name in Coburn Hall on the VUU campus. A selfless public servant, Dr. James was associated with more than 50 national, state and local organizations. He was one of the first investors in Paradigm Communications Inc., which publishes the Richmond Free Press, and served on its board. Most recently, he was featured in the Free Press’ annual “Most
Cherished Holiday Memories” in December 2014. His uncompromising stance for civil rights and human rights was embodied in his actions. When VUU students were arrested in the late 1960s while protesting segregation in the city, he and his wife put up their home to post bond. He challenged his colleagues on the state Board of Education to give high school seniors more than one opportunity to pass newly implemented minimum competency tests. As VUU president, he helped establish Community Learning Week as a citywide celebration to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. At age 91, he talked about how the struggle for equal rights and justice continues during remarks he made at the January 2014 Community Leaders Breakfast when he was presented the Lifetime of Service Award by Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, chairman of the VUU board of trustees. “As we face the rising sun of a new day that has begun, let us march on, fight on, legislate on, work on until the reality of Martin Luther King’s dream becomes a true factor in American life. Until it is really honored and respected. Until complete victory is won,” Dr. James said to a standing ovation. As news of his death spread, words of tribute and remembrance quickly poured in from those whose lives were touched by Dr. James. Dr. John W. Kinney recalled how Dr. James recruited him to come to VUU as a student in 1969, later taught him as a graduate student at the university’s seminary, encouraged him to earn a doctorate, and later, with two other former theology school deans, convinced him to accept his current position as dean of VUU’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology. “He was a principled man who always wanted things done decently and in order,” Dr. Kinney said. “He was an authentic man of faith and purpose who breathed life into everything that he was involved with. “He had a tremendous spirit of generosity, and I’m not just talking about money,” he added. “He always wanted to help you to be the best you could be. He always offered you encouragePlease turn to A4
UCI bike races
Richmond claims big win by the numbers By Thomas Kidd In the afterglow of the UCI Road World Championships, Richmond’s success-failure rating reads like a tale of two cities. It was the best of times The Richmond government proved to the world that it could handle the logistical complexities associated with hosting a 10-day, international sporting event. Richmond 2015, the organizing group, proclaimed victory just hours after men’s elite cyclist Peter Sagan of Slovakia crossed the finish line Sunday at 5th and Broad streets in Downtown to cheers and the clang of cowbells to become the men’s world cycling champion. Before the steel barricades, media trucks and colorful banners could come down and the 1,000 athletes could leave town, the group noted that in addition to capturing hundreds of millions of viewers in 150 countries, the
bicycle races drew about 645,000 spectators to Metro Richmond between the Sept. 18 opening ceremony at Brown’s Island and Mr. Sagan’s 162-mile championship win during Sunday’s grand finale. “A truly remarkable series of championship races was topped only by the excitement and enthusiasm shared by hundreds of thousands of spectators who saw the very best of what Richmond has to offer,” Mayor Dwight C. Jones said in a statement issued by organizers. More than 40 television partners, including 17 networks broadcasting live from Richmond, produced more than 800 hours of programming, organizers said. “This is exciting for us,” said Keira Johnson, a Virginia Department of Housing and Community Services employee, who set up folding chairs just a block from the finish line to take in the race with her 12-year-old son, Macari. Please turn to A5
Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press
Fans from the African nation of Eritrea wave their country’s flag as cyclists speed past them on Sunday during the Men’s Elite Road Race.
Graduation rate in city inches up
Herring: Training key to curb police bias, killings in the state
By Jeremy M. Lazarus
Better training. That’s the way to begin improving relationships between police officers and the residents they serve, particularly people of color, according to Attorney General Mark R. Herring. At a time when officer actions resulting in African-American deaths and injuries regularly make headlines, Mr. Herring announced he is taking action to upgrade training to head off such incidents in Virginia. Following months of discussion with law enforcement agencies, community leaders, activists and others, Mr. Herring announced two training initiatives Tuesday in concert with state Secretary of Public Attorney General Safety Brian J. Moran. Herring Speaking at The Carillon in Byrd Park, Mr. Herring said the new initiatives would aim to provide current and future law enforcement officers with the classes and information that can help them curb suspicion, hostility and protests. Mr. Herring’s proposals call for giving law enforcement officers more training on topics ranging from even-handed policing to bias awareness, de-escalation of confrontations, situational decision-making and proper use of force. The initiatives follow in the footsteps of the Richmond and
By Jeremy M. Lazarus
Richmond awarded diplomas to 1,156 students in June, or 81.4 percent of the 1,421 students in the Class of 2015, new data from the Virginia Department of Education shows. The good news: That is Richmond’s best showing since the state began reporting systematic graduation results for each class in 2008. Based on diploma awards, city schools have come a long way from seven years ago when only 65.6 percent of seniors graduated in four years. “We are moving in the right direction,” Superintendent Dana T. Bedden said Wednesday after James Haskins/Richmond Free Press reviewing the results. The improvement is only incrementally higher than last year, when 80.5 percent of seniors in the Class of 2014 From left, Dristan Tambrano, Kobe Sarfo and Daniel Bonse, all 16, fly through the air completed high school in four years, with wide-eyed delight on a ride Wednesday at the State Fair of Virginia. The annual family friendly fair features a variety of thrill rides, entertainment, competitions, which is considered on time.
Thrill ride
Please turn to A4
animals, agriculture and tasty treats. The fair continues through Sunday, Oct. 4, at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County.
Please turn to A4