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Virginia Capitol Connections , Winter 2013
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Some residents worry the tribal members would open casinos or
other gaming facilities. This is not true. The legislation that would
provide official recognition says that even if gaming were legalized
for all citizens in Virginia it would still be illegal for the Virginia
Indian tribes.
Today, there are only several thousand tribal members in the
state. That number may be small compared to the millions of Virginia
residents, but they deserve a voice. They deserve to share their story and
fight for recognition. These tribal members are just like us, working in
our neighborhoods, taking their children to local schools and trying to
make a life for their families.
Want to help? Visit www.vitalva.org for more information.
Together, we can help right the wrongs that have been done to these
people.
William H. Leighty is the former chief of staff to Governors Warner
and Kaine and serves as the Senior Advisor to the Virginia Indian
Tribal Alliance for Life (VITAL).
was eager to put his knowledge of agriculture to use. He went to the
Commonwealth of Virginia’s employment office looking for work.
He was hired immediately and started work the same day as a wage
employee forVirginia’s Department of General Services making $1.25
an hour. The next year he was hired as a full-time classified employee.
Maintaining 13 acres in the City of Richmond, especially if it is
Capitol Square, is no easy feat. Responsible for the landscaping of
the Capitol Square complex, Blackwell has worked in all weather
conditions, making sure every blade of grass is mowed, every sidewalk
is edged, every flowerbed is tended to, and every leaf is gathered up.
From cutting and fertilizing the lawn to regularly pruning trees and
shrubs and changing the plantings in the Square. From making sure
his crew completes their tasks to installing and ensuring the hardscape
(brick walkways) is maintained and repaired. Blackwell enjoys his
work as a Grounds Supervisor. What started as a job developed into
a lifelong career at the Department of General Services, Bureau
of Facilities Management. With an eye for detail, knowledge of
horticulture, and dedication to Capitol Square; Blackwell arrives for
work everyday at 7:00 a.m., 45 minutes before his shift starts. He has
been known to work on landscape projects on his own time.
The maintenance and upkeep of Capitol Square isn’t necessary
just during the warm part of the year, but also in the very cold months.
Making sure the pedestrian walkways are treated before the bad
weather begins and keeping walkways clear during storms are more
of Blackwell’s responsibilities. He takes these responsibilities very
seriously, which helps keep workers and visitors safe. “When it snows
and nobody in Richmond can get anywhere, he gets here and helps get
the snow moved,” said Tony Griffin, Deputy Chief of Maintenance
and Operations for the Department of General Services. “He is as
dependable as the sun coming up every morning.”
Blackwell lives with his wife Isabelle in Richmond and turned 69
in November. He says he has no plans to retire. Blackwell has a passion
for what he does and he has been a staple of Capitol square life. When
he reflected on his career in Capitol Square, he noted how the tools
had changed. Blackwell said, with a smile and a laugh, he no longer
uses grass clippers to remove weeds between the bricks, he now just
sprays them.
So, the next time it’s rainy and cold and you see the sidewalks
being treated and cleaned or it is 100 degrees and you are admiring
the beautiful roses encircling the fountains and the perfectly clean and
trimmed walkways; think about Mr. Blackwell. He might even be out
there working hard as Capitol Square’s unsung hero.
Virginia’s Capitol Square, a state and national treasure, is
renowned for its history and splendor. Throughout the years millions
of visitors, state employees and elected officials have admired its
beauty. The Square has changed over time. People have come and gone
and buildings have been vacated, renovated and reoccupied, but there
has been at least one constant working on the grounds making sure
everything is properly maintained. As a member of a hard working and
dedicated grounds and maintenance team, Stuart Blackwell has been a
steady force working in the Square and tending to its needs for almost
five decades.
In December 2012, Stuart Blackwell’s dedication and commitment
toVirginia’sCapitol Squarewas recognizedbyVirginiaCommonwealth
University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public
Affairs. Nominated by the Department of General Services, Blackwell
was presented the Unsung Heroes Award at the Excellence in Virginia
Government Awards luncheon held at the Marriott on Broad Street.
With a large crowd in attendance, Blackwell addressed the audience
thanking everyone who had helped him. He stated he did not know
how much grass he had mowed or how much snow he had shoveled or
leaves he had blown, but he knew one thing —he had enjoyed every
bit of it. Blackwell received a standing ovation for his speech.
It was April 16, 1963 and Stuart Blackwell, 20, was looking for
a job. Having grown up on a farm in Buckingham County, Blackwell
VITAL from page 20
Stuart Blackwell, Capitol Square’s
“Unsung Hero” for Almost Fifty Years By Susan Pollard
Left to right: Joseph F. Damico, Deputy Director, Department of General Services;
Stuart Blackwell, Grounds Supervisor, “Unsung Heroes” Award Recipient; Niraj
Verma, Director and Professor, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and
Public Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University; Governor L. Douglas Wilder
Thankfully, the Racial Integrity Act is no longer in place today,
and Virginia Indian Tribe members are free to embrace their heritage
and tell the world about their ancestors’ history as they did in great
numbers during the Queen’s visit in 2007. The Commonwealth of
Virginia finally gave the tribes official recognition, but not until 1983.
But federal recognition is still only a dream.
Why do they need federal recognition? First and foremost it is
a matter of pride and dignity. Secondly it would make their children
eligible for federal Indian educational benefits. Their children are not
currently eligible for federal scholarships set aside forAmerican Indians.
They also would be eligible for federal health funding. Additionally,
there are over 1,500 Virginia Native American remains being held by
the Smithsonian Institution that cannot be brought back to Virginia for
proper burial unless claimed by a “federally recognized tribe.”
Official recognition for Virginia Indian tribes won’t create extra
federal spending. These benefits would be paid out of pre-existing
federal appropriations; additional federal spending is not necessary.
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