With the passing of Jack Fishwick, former president of the Norfolk and Western Railroad, last month, I began to think about all the stellar individuals I ran into as a young man coming back to Roanoke in the 1970’s who influenced me and our City. The ones that had the greatest impression, in my opinion, were those folks I would call “John Kennedy Democrats.” The people that come to mind are Jack and Blair Fishwick, Granger and Anne Macfarlane, David and Susan Goode, Dick and Mary Jane Pattisall, Dick Cranwell, Emily and Chip Woodrum, Wick Anderson, Vic and Dot Thomas, Bill and Ginny Hopkins, Phyllis and Jim Olin, Cabell and Shirley Brand, Jimmy Trinkle and Alvin Hudson, just to name a few.
This list, abbreviated as it may be, sure did have a lot of influential people on it. Fishwick was the president of the railroad, Macfarlane and Hopkins served in the Senate of Virginia. Dick Pattisall became a Circuit Court Judge and Alvin Hudson became Sheriff of Roanoke. Jim Olin was a United States Congressman. Vic, Chip, Dick and Wick all served in the Virginia House of Delegates. Jimmy Trinkle, son of a Virginia governor, was a pillar in the real estate community. Cabell and Shirley Brand are nationally recognized advocates for the poor and social justice. They, along with their very influential wives, molded political society in the City through much of the 1970’s and 80’s, and mentored a lot of young Democrats like me!
Not only were they successful in their own business or political endeavors, but these individuals also stood for the sound principles of the Democratic Party espoused by and inspired by our late President John F. Kennedy.
Just as you might ascribe many adjectives to JFK such as dashing, intelligent, charming, compassionate, visionary and decisive, these same characteristics could be attributed to this group from the Roanoke area, as well.
I can remember each of these men, at one time or another, with their white shirt and plain string tie in a dark suit, hair tousled, with their charming smile, just as Kennedy might have looked. But it wasn’t just their appearance, singularly or collectively, that comes to mind. It was their view of the world, and it was a good, mutually held view. This view, as I would relate it, was of a strong America diplomatically, militarily and economically, but most importantly, morally strong and tolerant as to the other cultures of the world. Their view was one of civil rights for minorities, integration for a segregated south, and tolerance of other races and religious viewpoints. Their’s was a view of a progressive Virginia, with emphasis on improvements in our state schools, economic development and transportation. These were the Roanoke leaders who supported the new age of Governor Chuck Robb, Jerry Baliles and Doug Wilder, ultimately leading to strong governorships by Mark Warner and Tim Kaine during this century.
As Roanokers, gathered at the funeral of Jack Fishwick, I couldn’t help but remember all of these folks gathering among each other from time to time sharing great moments in the past. What a collection of terrific public service oriented individuals who helped transform Roanoke and Virginia during the last quarter of the 1900’s and leaving their world, just like John Kennedy, a better place for others to live.
These Roanokers stand as a testament in our region’s progress. They and their families made real and positive contributions to our local society.
Many will remember that smiling and young John Kennedy standing amidst the crowd on a mostly sunny, blustery day at the Roanoke airport, as he campaigned for the presidency in 1960. I’ll remember his admirers and followers who lived right here in our part of Virginia, Sure could use more like them nowadays.
-David A. Bowers Mayor of Roanoke
Mr Mayor: I respectfully submit that you are living in the past. As comfortable as it is for you, I suggest you pull your head out of the hole and look around. Today’s democrat typically is at the head of the line for public welfare be it personally or corporately. Promise the have nots to gain their support, then burden the haves with the price tag of those promises. I would like to think that in your firmly cemented democrat mind, you see good in all the “progress” made over the years since 1960. But tell me, what exactly has improved.