RICHMOND
CITY COUNCIL
Richmond
City Council – Richmond City Hall - 900 E. Broad Street, Suite 305 - Richmond,
Virginia 23219 U.S.A. - www.council.richmondva.gov
COUNCIL PUBLIC
INFORMATION NEWS RELEASE
IMMEDIATE
RELEASE TO BE FORWARDED AND SHARED
A statement from
Richmond City Council
Regarding
the passing of Mr. Clarence Lee Townes, Jr.
(Richmond,
Virginia U.S.A.) - “It is with deep and profound sadness that
Richmond City Council learned of the passing yesterday of lifelong Richmond resident,
community advocate, civil rights champion, public servant, businessman, national
and local political activist, and friend, Mr. Clarence Lee Townes, Jr.
Our hearts and prayers go out to his
family during this difficult time as we share in mourning his passing and in honoring
and remembering his important life, largesse and legacy.
Mr. Townes was a true paragon and community
treasure who embodied and exemplified the strength and stature of a benevolent lion,
as he was affectionately known as by his family and friends.
A man of exceptional reputation, Mr.
Townes possessed substantial ability, intellect, fortitude and commitment and worked
tirelessly during his lifetime to advance, strengthen, and increase the economic,
educational, and political status of African-Americans in Richmond, statewide
and in the nation.
Born in Richmond on January 21, 1928, Mr. Townes graduated from Richmond Public Schools Armstrong
High School in 1944, earned his Bachelor of Science (Commerce) from Virginia
Union University, and was commissioned and served as a Second Lieutenant in the
United States of America Amy Infantry, receiving his honorable discharge in
1953.
During
the 1950's and 1960's, Mr. Townes served numerous political leadership roles at
the local, state and national level and, in 1970 helped found the Joint Center
for Political Affairs, an African-American think-tank associated with Howard
University that assisted newly elected black officials, serving as its Director
of Governmental Affairs from 1970-1974.
Mr.
Townes' professional career included serving as a consultant on federal
programs to Virginia State University and to the Virginia Electric and Power Company
on matters regarding equal employment. He also served as a consultant for the U.S.A.
Department of Labor, Manpower Administration, evaluating the Equal Opportunity
Program, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Consolidated Bank and
Trust Co. of Richmond, the oldest African-American controlled bank in the United
States of America.
Mr.
Townes' public and community service leadership included serving as
Commissioner of the Richmond Redevelopment
and Housing Authority and as Chairman of Richmond Renaissance, a non-profit economic
development booster organization for downtown Richmond, and subsequently as its
Deputy Director and Director.
Mr.
Townes also served as a Trustee and the Chairman of the Richmond Public Schools
Board of Trustees and as a Member and Chairman of the Metropolitan Richmond
Convention and Visitors Bureau. His leadership also included serving as a
Member of the Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors, Virginia
Commonwealth University Real Estate Foundation, and as a Valentine Museum Board
of Trustees Emeritus.
In America, public and community
service is considered to be among the most important and noble work a person
can do and, through his outstanding example, Mr. Clarence Lee Townes, Jr. proved
his dedication to and
support of the principles and creed written into the founding documents of our
great Nation, in that our individual destinies and that of our families,
communities, city, state and country include not only the aspiration of our
federal constitutional republic but, the time, talent, investment, labor and
dedication of all its residents in realizing the fulfillment of its promise.
Richmond City Council and Richmond residents
join together to recognize the important life, largesse and legacy of Mr. Clarence
Lee Townes, Jr. and thank his family for sharing him with us all these years
and for the tremendous assistance and support they provided in helping him and
Richmond to be an even better place to live, love, work, play, visit and raise
a family."
