In the Fall of 2006, the Alexandria Gazette Packet asked you to nominate those whose vision and energy has improved life in Alexandria. You were asked, in 100 words or less, (and that was a challenge for the nominators!) to explain what tangible improvement to the quality of the city's life would likely be missing without this person's vision and energy. I am very pleased to report that the project is moving forward under the administrative sponsorship of The Rotary Club of Alexandria.
Forty-nine nominations were received. They ranged from city officials whose names you know to some folks you may not have heard of. In the past months, I have contacted and photographed most of the nominees. Some, regrettably, could not be reached. If you are among those still to be photographed, please contact me at ninat@tisaraphoto.com to schedule a time.
Photographs of all of the Legends available to be photographed and a statement of their contributions will be exhibited at the Lyceum beginning in March 2008. The information will be accessible at the Alexandria Library and on a Living Legend section of the Gazette Packet Web site.
A committee is selecting twelve of the nominees (that is a challenge for the committee!) to be featured in articles that will appear on the pages of the Gazette Packet for six months beginning in the middle of June. Christa Watters, former editor of the Gazette Packet, has volunteered to write the feature articles.
Living Legends of Alexandria will be an ongoing project that documents the changing landscape of our city and the individuals who make tangible contributions to the quality of life in Alexandria. I am honored to be part of creating this historical collection that celebrates Alexandria's Legends.
This Fall, we will again ask for your nominations. As you look at the names listed below, others will likely come to mind who should have been nominated. Start a file somewhere — on your computer, on your refrigerator door, or wherever you keep track of things — so that when the time comes, you'll be ready to send those names in.
This year's nominees (Legends all) are: Mollie Abraham, Franklin P. Backus, Sarah Becker, Donna Bergheim, Mel Bergheim, Tom Bowling, Barbara Brecher, Susan Butler, Jean Caldwell, David Cleary, George Cook, Lou Cook, David Cordell and Jonathan Friedman (nominated as team), Fred Day, Kerry Donley, Bill Euille, Margaret French, Marion Galland, Carolyn Griffin, Charlotte Hall, William Hurd, Dana Lawhorne, Vola Lawson, Marlin Lord, Tim Lutz, Ann Lynch, David Martin, Eula Miller, Melvin Miller, Pat Miller, Scott Mitchell, Patty Moran, Ann Boston Parish, Ellen Pickering, John Porter, Kitty Porterfield, Bill Reagan, Debra Roepke, Stephen Rideout, Ronald Rucker, Gladys Seisler, Jack Ticer, Patsy Ticer, Henry (Huck) Thomas, Larry Trice, Pat Troy, Marian Van Landingham, Joseph Viar, Glenn White and Joe Youcha.