Biography of Lawrence Douglas Wilder
Biography of Lawrence Douglas Wilder
Personal
Lawrence Douglas Wilder was born January 17, 1931 in Richmond, Virginia. He was the seventh of eight children born to parents Beulah Olive (Richards) and Robert Judson Wilder. He is the grandson of slaves, his paternal grandparents were enslaved in Hanover County, Virginia.
Wilder was raised in the historic Church Hill neighborhood of Richmond. The once segregated neighborhood contains the most antebellum structures in Richmond. Growing up, Wilder often spent time arguing about political and sports paraphernalia in the nearby barbershop and listening to political debates and often debating sports. He attended Richmond's racially segregated public schools—George Mason Elementary and Armstrong High School where he graduated at the age of 16. After graduation from high school, Wilder attended Virginia Union University, a designated Historically Black College and University (HBCU). While a student, he worked as a waiter to pay his tuition. In 1951, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. He was hired to work in the Chief Medical Examiner’s Toxicology department as a chemical laboratory specialist.
Military Service
A year after graduation, Wilder was drafted into the United States Army to serve in the Korean War. He earned a Bronze Star for heroism in ground combat for capturing 19 enemy soldiers and rescuing a group of wounded American soldiers. He was a Sergeant First Class when he was honorably discharged in 1953.
Professional Career
Upon his return from the Korean War, Wilder enrolled at Howard University Law School, a recognized HBCU. He graduated in 1959 and later established the legal firm that became known as Wilder, Gregory & Associates, one of the few minority-owned businesses in Virginia at the time and the first law office to be located in Church Hill. Wilder gained the esteemed recognition as a leading criminal trial lawyer.
Political Career
L. Douglas Wilder’s career in public service spans over 70 years and includes many historic milestones. Governor Wilder became the first African-American to be elected governor in the U.S., leading the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1990 to 1994. As the Commonwealth’s 66th governor, he was commended for his sound fiscal management and balancing the state budget during difficult economic times. Financial World magazine ranked Virginia as the best-managed state in the U.S. for two consecutive years under his administration.
Prior to his time as governor, he served as lieutenant governor from 1986 to 1990 and as a state senator from 1969-1985, chairing committees on Transportation; Rehabilitation and Social Services; Privileges and Elections; the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council (VALC), the forerunner of the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission (JLARC) that conducts program evaluation, policy analysis, and oversight of state agencies on behalf of the Virginia General Assembly; and the Senate Steering Committee, which appoints committee members.
Other legislative achievements include providing state health care coverage for sickle-cell anemia patients, toughening penalties for capital murderers and prison escapees, and expanding low and moderate-income housing. For eight years, he persisted in sponsoring legislation that eventually led to establishing a state holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., making Virginia the first state in the nation to have a legislative holiday for Dr. King. Governor Wilder was the driving force in appointing black judges to serve on the bench.
Persuaded to run for Richmond City Mayor in 2004, Governor Wilder received eighty percent of the vote and carried each of the city’s nine council districts and every precinct in the city. He was sworn in as Richmond’s first elected mayor in 2005 and served until 2009, making him the first African-American mayor elected by popular vote from all of the citizens of Richmond. During his term, the city made remarkable progress in its fight against crime, hitting its lowest rate in 27 years. Downtown economic development and neighborhood improvements were widespread, and financial management reached a new level of scrutiny that served taxpayers well.
Current
Today, Governor Wilder is a Distinguished Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs where he lectures and hosts symposia, including Race in Academia, The Triple Pandemic, Racism, Health, and Accountability, HBCUs and the Absence of Support, and most recently Elections 2024: The Importance of Listening to the People. He is also the author of Son of Virginia: A Life in America’s Political Arena, published by Lyons Press.
In recent years, he has served as the keynote speaker for The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Kerner Commission Report National Conference held at the University of Minnesota and the University of Richmond’s Law Symposium, The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act: Past, Present, and Future.
While Governor Wilder's support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) is longstanding, he recently played a pivotal role in urging Virginia's Attorney General Jason Miyares to issue a binding opinion on state funding for HBCUs. This opinion seeks to rectify past and ongoing racial discrimination in funding allocation, underscoring Wilder's unwavering commitment to educational equity.
As one of the commonwealth's best and most outspoken ambassadors, he continues to be a champion for the people and remains highly engaged in issues for Virginians. Governor Wilder is a recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious NAACP Spingarn Medal. Most recently, he received the University of Virginia's Center for Politics Defender of Democracy Award which recognized his lifelong efforts and actions to improve and strengthen democracy. His legacy continues to inspire all citizens to engage in public service by "demanding what is right and criticizing what is wrong."
Personal
Lawrence Douglas Wilder was born January 17, 1931 in Richmond, Virginia. He was the seventh of eight children born to parents Beulah Olive (Richards) and Robert Judson Wilder. He is the grandson of slaves, his paternal grandparents were enslaved in Hanover County, Virginia.
Wilder was raised in the historic Church Hill neighborhood of Richmond. The once segregated neighborhood contains the most antebellum structures in Richmond. Growing up, Wilder often spent time arguing about political and sports paraphernalia in the nearby barbershop and listening to political debates and often debating sports. He attended Richmond's racially segregated public schools—George Mason Elementary and Armstrong High School where he graduated at the age of 16. After graduation from high school, Wilder attended Virginia Union University, a designated Historically Black College and University (HBCU). While a student, he worked as a waiter to pay his tuition. In 1951, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. He was hired to work in the Chief Medical Examiner’s Toxicology department as a chemical laboratory specialist.
Military Service
A year after graduation, Wilder was drafted into the United States Army to serve in the Korean War. He earned a Bronze Star for heroism in ground combat for capturing 19 enemy soldiers and rescuing a group of wounded American soldiers. He was a Sergeant First Class when he was honorably discharged in 1953.
Professional Career
Upon his return from the Korean War, Wilder enrolled at Howard University Law School, a recognized HBCU. He graduated in 1959 and later established the legal firm that became known as Wilder, Gregory & Associates, one of the few minority-owned businesses in Virginia at the time and the first law office to be located in Church Hill. Wilder gained the esteemed recognition as a leading criminal trial lawyer.
Political Career
L. Douglas Wilder’s career in public service spans over 70 years and includes many historic milestones. Governor Wilder became the first African-American to be elected governor in the U.S., leading the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1990 to 1994. As the Commonwealth’s 66th governor, he was commended for his sound fiscal management and balancing the state budget during difficult economic times. Financial World magazine ranked Virginia as the best-managed state in the U.S. for two consecutive years under his administration.
Prior to his time as governor, he served as lieutenant governor from 1986 to 1990 and as a state senator from 1969-1985, chairing committees on Transportation; Rehabilitation and Social Services; Privileges and Elections; the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council (VALC), the forerunner of the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission (JLARC) that conducts program evaluation, policy analysis, and oversight of state agencies on behalf of the Virginia General Assembly; and the Senate Steering Committee, which appoints committee members.
Other legislative achievements include providing state health care coverage for sickle-cell anemia patients, toughening penalties for capital murderers and prison escapees, and expanding low and moderate-income housing. For eight years, he persisted in sponsoring legislation that eventually led to establishing a state holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., making Virginia the first state in the nation to have a legislative holiday for Dr. King. Governor Wilder was the driving force in appointing black judges to serve on the bench.
Persuaded to run for Richmond City Mayor in 2004, Governor Wilder received eighty percent of the vote and carried each of the city’s nine council districts and every precinct in the city. He was sworn in as Richmond’s first elected mayor in 2005 and served until 2009, making him the first African-American mayor elected by popular vote from all of the citizens of Richmond. During his term, the city made remarkable progress in its fight against crime, hitting its lowest rate in 27 years. Downtown economic development and neighborhood improvements were widespread, and financial management reached a new level of scrutiny that served taxpayers well.
Current
Today, Governor Wilder is a Distinguished Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs where he lectures and hosts symposia, including Race in Academia, The Triple Pandemic, Racism, Health, and Accountability, HBCUs and the Absence of Support, and most recently Elections 2024: The Importance of Listening to the People. He is also the author of Son of Virginia: A Life in America’s Political Arena, published by Lyons Press.
In recent years, he has served as the keynote speaker for The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Kerner Commission Report National Conference held at the University of Minnesota and the University of Richmond’s Law Symposium, The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act: Past, Present, and Future.
While Governor Wilder's support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) is longstanding, he recently played a pivotal role in urging Virginia's Attorney General Jason Miyares to issue a binding opinion on state funding for HBCUs. This opinion seeks to rectify past and ongoing racial discrimination in funding allocation, underscoring Wilder's unwavering commitment to educational equity.
As one of the commonwealth's best and most outspoken ambassadors, he continues to be a champion for the people and remains highly engaged in issues for Virginians. Governor Wilder is a recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious NAACP Spingarn Medal. Most recently, he received the University of Virginia's Center for Politics Defender of Democracy Award which recognized his lifelong efforts and actions to improve and strengthen democracy. His legacy continues to inspire all citizens to engage in public service by "demanding what is right and criticizing what is wrong."
Bibliography
St. John's Church District. Historic Richmond: Building on History. Retrieved November 27, 2024. https://historicrichmond.com/our-impact/st-johns-church-district/#:~:text=Church%20Hill%20is%20the%20oldest,the%20efforts%20of%20Historic%20Richmond
Wilder: Former Governor now Candidate for Richmond Mayor. September 26, 2004. The Free Lance-Star. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LTQzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2ggGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2560,7711716&dq=douglas+wilder+pork+chop+hill+bronze+star&hl=enest,the%20efforts%20of%20Historic%20Richmond
Bibliography
St. John's Church District. Historic Richmond: Building on History. Retrieved November 27, 2024. https://historicrichmond.com/our-impact/st-johns-church-district/#:~:text=Church%20Hill%20is%20the%20oldest,the%20efforts%20of%20Historic%20Richmond
Wilder: Former Governor now Candidate for Richmond Mayor. September 26, 2004. The Free Lance-Star. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LTQzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2ggGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2560,7711716&dq=douglas+wilder+pork+chop+hill+bronze+star&hl=enest,the%20efforts%20of%20Historic%20Richmond