[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 194 (Wednesday, December 14, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





      HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF LEO VIRGINIUS WILLIAMS, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELAINE G. LURIA

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 14, 2022

  Mrs. LURIA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Leo 
Virginius Williams, Jr.
  Born on April 14, 1926, to the late Bessie and Leo V. Williams, Sr., 
Leo Williams was a Norfolk native and a 1943 graduate of Booker T. 
Washington High School. He was also a 1951 graduate of Norfolk Division 
of Virginia State College, a 1953 graduate of Virginia State 
University, and a 1963 graduate of the University of Virginia.
  Mr. Williams served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946 as 
a Pharmacist Mate Third Class before beginning college. He was among 
the first African Americans in the U.S. Navy to serve in the Medical 
Corps and among the first African Americans to receive a graduate 
degree from the University of Virginia.
  Following his graduation from Virginia State University, Mr. Williams 
began his career as an educator teaching math and business at Ruffner 
Middle School. He also served as the principal at Titustown, Robert E. 
Lee, and Oceanair Elementary Schools. Robert E. Lee was one of the 
first integrated schools for staff members in 1963, and Oceanair 
Elementary School was one of the first to have an African American 
principal. Leo's calm spirit and commitment to educating our students 
demonstrated a level of excellence quickly noted by the community and 
his superiors.
  From 1967 to 1969, Mr. Williams served as the Assistant Director of 
the Norfolk Model Cities Program as a representative from the Norfolk 
School Board. He was promoted to Assistant Director of Pupil Personnel 
in Norfolk Public Schools (NPS). With this promotion, he became the 
first African American to serve on the Urban Assistance Incentive Fund 
Advisory Committee appointed by Former Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr. In 
1971, Mr. Williams became the Director of Pupil Personnel for the 
Norfolk School Board. He was also the first African American to serve 
in this role and was appointed to serve on the Urban Assistance 
Incentive Fund Advisory Committee by Former Governor Linwood Holton.
  Mr. Williams retired in 1995 with more than 40 years of service to 
NPS. In 1998, he became an adjunct professor at Norfolk State 
University, where he taught school law and school community relations 
at the graduate level. In 2010, he returned to Norfolk Public Schools, 
where he remained until 2016. He retired again in 2016 at the tender 
age of 90 after years of service to our community.
  Mr. Williams' commitment to our children and improving our education 
system is inspiring. I am proud to honor and recognize his leadership 
and legacy. Coastal Virginia is a better place because of him.

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