This photo of the Lynchburg Foundry Band was taken in 1920 at the east end train depot. The band was composed of Radford Pipe Works employees and was organized in 1915. Ahead of the times, they played jazz and some classical music.RADFORD – Radford Mayor David Horton’s daily spotlights honoring Radford Black History Month are a popular addition to people’s Facebook feeds, and the latest posts include a trail-blazing band, a beloved educator and an important contributor to the labor movement.
He writes:
Tuesday, Feb. 16:
Today in #radfordblackhistory we are proud to feature a pioneer in Radford Science Education – Mr. Lincoln L. Lee.
So many folks reached out to tell me what an inspiration he was to them.
I cannot do his service to this community justice compared to my friend and colleague, former Vice Mayor Dr. Dick Harshberger, who was kind to share his tribute to Mr. Lee from 2005.
A Tribute to Lincoln Lafayette Lee
By Dr. Richard Harshberger
On Saturday, May 14, 2005, Lincoln Lafayette Lee, educator, community leader, church elder, family patriarch, mentor to many, and an inspiration to three generations of Radford, Virginia young people, died in his sleep after an extended illness. A dear friend to this writer and to a host of others, his loving concern, guidance and friendship will be sorely missed.
“Lafayette,” as he was known by to his many friends and to his family, was born in Bristol, Virginia on August 4th, 1933 to Ballard and Lottie Lee. An outstanding athlete and star basketball player at Douglas High School, he was awarded an athletic scholarship to Swift Junior College and subsequently to Mississippi Industrial College, where he excelled both athletically and academically, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Science. In 1966 he earned his Master’s Degree in Teacher Education from Radford University. He married Jeanie Foster, a native of Dante, Virginia, and daughter of Artemis and Rosa Foster, prominent Dante citizens. At the time of his death, Lafayette and Jeanie had been married 45 years and had borne and raised five children—Kelvin, Karen, Robert, Jennifer and Michael—and were the proud grandparents of twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The Educator
After beginning his career in 1957 in Jacksonville, Mississippi, where he taught science and coached basketball and football, Mr. Lee and his family moved to Southwest Virginia when he accepted a position with the Christiansburg Institute, one of the finest black secondary schools in the country. He had a distinguished career as a Science teacher at the Institute, where his students consistently placed 1st in the annual Statewide Science Fair competitions. Many of his students went on to distinguished professional careers after compiling outstanding academic records in institutions of higher learning throughout Virginia and the United States.
With the desegregation of public education in the South, Christiansburg Institute was closed and Mr. Lee, as all of his students called him, moved to Radford High School to teach. His first semester at Radford High School provided an insight into his approach to teaching that would characterize his long teaching career in Radford. Assigned a “teaching” schedule of six study halls his first semester, Mr. Lee decided he could make a difference. If students were meant to study in study hall, then he would see that they studied. Applying a combination of stern discipline and a helping hand, he was able to assist a great number of students in achieving academic success through constant encouragement, mentoring, tutoring, coaching, and structuring of their efforts.
Over time, as the Science teacher for Radford’s Elementary Schools, he became a kind of legend. Children came home with stories of Mr. Lee’s ironclad disciplinary techniques coupled with their genuine awe and admiration for Mr. Lee as a teacher. Many a stern-faced parent marched into a student conference with Mr. Lee to see what this was all about, only to leave with a deep respect for the dedication and ability of this master teacher.
Lincoln Lafayette Lee was modest about his own professionalism. Few knew that he spent weeks in the summer sequestered with other leading educators in the state, refining the statewide standards of learning for elementary school science.
Mr. Lee encouraged students at all levels to aspire to be the best that they could be, whether it be in sports, work, or academia. He pushed physical fitness as one of his agendas for his students, often to the groans and protests of those in his charge. He built his lesson plans to include a balance of learning coming from the heart, the head and the hands—(what some educators in their pedagogical pedantry call the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains) thus giving all of his students the opportunity to shine and display their strengths.
An example of the potency of his influence could be seen in the life choices many of his students made. Thirty years after graduation, Mr. Lee’s former students would still stand a little taller and speak a little softer when they entered his presence. Respect, once earned and once given, is not easily forgotten.
The Community Leader
Mr. Lee was always interested in the welfare of Radford. After retiring from the Radford City School System with thirty-eight years of distinguished service, he was urged to run for election to the Radford City School Board. Although confined to a wheel chair and unable to campaign door-to-door, Mr. Lee was elected by a landslide. He left his mark on the school system through his strong support of diversity, high standards of excellence, and equal access for all. After serving his four-year term, he continued to be active in Radford politics, involving himself in local issues and elections.
The Church Deacon
A deeply religious man, Mr. Lee believed in living his religion actively. He provided strong spiritual and emotional guidance to his family while serving thirty-one years as a Deacon of the Zion Hill Baptist Church until his death. He worked tirelessly – behind the scenes – to see that his church had the best of everything, while raising his beautiful voice in song each Sunday in praise of the Lord.
The Family Patriarch
Above all, Lincoln Lee was a family man. A wonderful provider, few people realized that he held two full-time positions – for most of his adult life – to ensure that his family had every opportunity he could give them. Because of his extraordinary energy and dedication, it mostly went unnoted that, in addition to his teaching career, Mr. Lee served for twenty-five years as the Director of Security for Radford Community Hospital.
With his and Jeanie’s nurturing and guidance, all of their children and grandchildren have excelled in their career choices. He would have been so proud to see one of his granddaughters graduate with honors from William and Mary this past weekend.
You may sum up a life of one so generous and loving as Lincoln Lee by what he has left behind – a loving wife who understood and steadfastly supported him, a family that adored him, friends that loved him, colleagues that admired and respected him, a church that relied on him, a city that drew upon his dedicated service, and three generations of students whose lives and careers were enriched by him. Mr. Lee, you were one of a kind. You leave behind a void that will not be filled. We will miss you.
Wednesday, Feb. 17:
Today in #radfordblackhistory we feature a giant in the modern American labor movement – Byron Charlton.
Born in Radford in 1939, Mr. Charlton graduated from Christiansburg Institute and then he enlisted in the Air Force where he served as security police.
Upon his return to Radford, he joined the Lynchburg Foundry and became a member of the United Steelworkers of America Local Union 2969.
In 1970, he became an elected official for the Union and his major life’s work began.
He was a champion of the people, helping to make sure that his fellow workers had a voice and an opportunity for success. His organizational and collaboration skills enabled him to bring people together to find solutions locally and later on a much larger stage.
He worked across the Commonwealth of Virginia helping unionize the Newport News Shipyard where more than 1000 steel workers were struggling with challenging conditions while building the ships our United States Defense program depended on. Again, he made sure that the workers had a voice and representation with concerns.
His talent as well as his determination and force of will in this area was well documented and in the late 70s and early 80s he worked with the AFL-CIO both at home and abroad helping to create a climate where workers around the world had a path to safety and prosperity.
We lost Mr. Charlton at the end of 2020, but his legacy lives on. I am including just a few of the tributes paid to him by organizations across America.
From my point of view, if we can say that we made life just a little better for another person while we are on this earth, we have found success. Byron Charlton did so for thousands of people globally. Citizens around the world are safer because of his work.
https://www.ifpte.org/…/ifpte-mourns-the-lose-of-byron…
https://aflcio.org/…/service-solidarity-spotlight-rest…
https://www.afge.org/…/afge-mourns-passing-of-nsps…/…
Thursday, Feb. 18:
Today in #radfordblackhistory we celebrate the sounds of a century ago.
On April 16, 1920—Emancipation Day—this photograph of the Lynchburg Foundry Company Band was taken at the east end train depot. Organized in 1915, the band was composed of Radford Pipe Works employees. Members were reportedly ahead of the times with regard to jazz and could also play a variety of classical tunes. (Courtesy of Leora Caesar and Sarah Carter.)
This image and story are found in the images of America Radford VA book: https://www.amazon.com/Radford-Images-America-John-Barksdale/
I think a copy of this book and others can be found at Glencoe Mansion, Museum & Gallery for purchase and the Radford Public Library if you want to check it out.
