John Tolbert Explained

John W. Tolbert, Jr. (Charlestown, West Virginia, 12 July 1905 – 1999) was an American local education activist and local politician from Leesburg, Virginia.^[1]

He was born in Charlestown, West Virginia, on July 12, 1905, to John W. Tolbert, Sr., and Sarah Dabney Tolbert. In his youth he attended Dunbar High School (Washington, D.C.).^[2]

He was the first black person to serve on the Leesburg Town Council, for 14 years from 1976 to 1990, and never missed a meeting.^[3] Tolbert was appointed to the Town Council in 1976 and was first elected in 1978,^[4] losing reelection in 1990.^[5] He Active in public life, he gave his time and energy to numerous organizations and committees, receiving a number of awards for his achievements.^[6]

John W. Tolbert Jr. Elementary School,^[7] Tolbert Street, the John W. Tolbert Jr. Bridge, and the Tolbert Building, all in Leesburg, are named in his honor.

Notes and References

1. http://www.loudoun.k12.va.us/domain/7294 Obituary
2. News: Hedgpeth. Dana. A LuminaryIn Leesburg Dies at Age 94. 27 November 2017. Washington Post. 9 December 1999.
3. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?001+ful+SJ145ER State of Virginia, Bill Tracking - 2000 session Legislation
4. Web site: Hedgpeth . Dana . December 9, 1999 . A LuminaryIn Leesburg Dies at Age 94 . The Washington Post.
5. Web site: Stephen . Turnham . April 9, 1992 . LEESBURG RACES FOCUS ON TAXES, TOWN GROWTH .
6. Sarah Huntington. In Their Own Words: Recollections of an Earlier Loudoun. Xlibris, 2012. . "When I moved to Loudoun in 1931 there were only 1,500 people living in Leesburg. Years later, in 1949, I ran for Town ..."
7. Web site: Seymour . Liz . October 12, 2000 . School May Be Named for Tolbert .