L. Douglas Wilder

Lawrence Douglas Wilder

L. Douglas Wilder of Richmond became the first African American elected governor of a U.S. state.

Early life

Born in Richmond in 1931, the grandson of enslaved people, Wilder earned a Bronze Star in the Korean War and became a trial lawyer.

He served in the Virginia Senate and as lieutenant governor before being elected governor of Virginia in 1989, and later as mayor of Richmond.

His 1989 victory made him the first Black American elected governor of any state since Reconstruction.

Wilder is a landmark figure in American political history and a trailblazer for Black leadership.

Politician

Eric Cantor of Richmond served as U.S. House Majority Leader, the highest congressional post held by a Jewish American.

Athlete · Activist

Arthur Ashe, the only Black man to win Wimbledon and the U.S. and Australian Opens, was born in Richmond, Virginia.

Producer · Songwriter

Beat Billionaire is an American record producer from Richmond, Virginia, known for his work with Grand Hustle, Maybach Music Group, and Roc Nation.

Politician

Carter Glass, a U.S. senator and architect of the Federal Reserve, was born in Lynchburg, Virginia.