IRVINGTON—Former Virginia Governor A. Linwood Holton Jr. died Thursday, October 28, at the retirement home he shared with his wife at Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury near Irvington. He was 98.
Virginia’s first Republican governor in the 20th century, he is remembered for his work in civil rights and integration. His passing was announced by his children.
“To the world, Governor Linwood Holton is known as a giant of civil rights and change. When others stood in the doorways of schools to block de-segregation, our Dad walked us (and bused us) to integrated schools to show the rest of the world the way of justice. When others balked at tearing down the barriers to employment and opportunities for all Americans, our Dad led the charge in hiring for the Governor’s office a staff that represented all Virginians. In launching a political party that included Main Street business, labor organizations, and African American organizations including the Crusade for Voters, Dad helped break the back of the political machine that had called the shots in Virginia. Dad was all of that and more in his public life.
“But to us, he was simply a great Dad—a hero who helped us with our math homework, told us funny stories, and showed us….[to-view-more]