Pioneers/Trailblazers

William H. Pitts Sr.

Athlete / Educator / Principal

William H. Pitts, the distinguished Alexandria principal, was a three-year starter on the Virginia Union University’s football team from 1921 to 1924. He was an outstanding member of Virginia Union’s 1923 National Championship Football Team, and was inducted into the school’s Football Hall of Fame in 1928. He was the principal of the legendary Parker-Gray High School from 1938 to 1965.

---

William D. “Bill” Euille

Mayor / Entrepreneur / Philanthropist

William D. Euille, an Alexandria native, holds the honor of being Alexandria’s first African American mayor.

Positions on the Alexandria City Council and as vice mayor are included in his list of accomplishments.  Mayor Euille founded Wm. D. Euille & Associates, a successful construction firm, and has been a generous philanthropist to many community organizations through the William D. Euille Foundation.

---

William Goddard

Emancipator

William Goddard, the Alexandria African American Emancipator, was born into slavery, his birth date unknown. After being sold to a Quaker for 80 pounds, he was able to buy his own freedom for 120 pounds three years later by paying in installments. He was emancipated in 1799. Throughout his life, he purchased/brokered the freedom of 22 enslaved people in Alexandria. He died in 1819.

---

Moses Hepburn

Contractor / Builder

Moses Hepburn, anAfrican American contractor and builder,was the son of an enslaved laundress. He purchased land and water rights to his properties along the Potomac River and helped purchase the land for what is now Roberts Memorial United Methodist Church. He also built four townhouses in Alexandria, Virginia (206-212 N. Pitt Street).

---

The Hundley Model

Civil Rights / Model

The Hundley Family settled in the segregated Alexandria between the late 1930s and early 40s. The family lived on South St. Asaph Street in the historic Bottoms neighborhood. The children, six girls, and two boys attended Lyles Crouch elementary and Parker-Gray High School and they attended Roberts Memorial Methodist Church. Pervis Hundley was a Porter and his wife Blois worked as a cook at Lyles Crouch School.

In 1958, Blois Hundley unexpectedly made history in the Civil Rights struggle. At a Parker-Gray PTA meeting, NAACP representatives asked parents if they wanted their children to attend white schools. Blois raised her hand resulting in two of Hundley’s children, Pearl and Theodosia to be named in the NAACP federal lawsuit. Blois was fired as a cook at the public school by Alexandria’s School Superintendent, Thomas “TC” Williams.

One of Blois’ daughters LaJeune, a 1958 Parker-Gray High School graduate, made history becoming one of America’s first, African American internationally recognized models. LaJeune graced the covers of Sepia, Ebony, Jet, and Life magazines. Read more

---

Reverend George Parker

Minister / Politician / Entrepreneur

The Reverend George Parker holds the distinction of being the first African American in 1870 to serve on the Alexandria City Council. As founder and minister of Third Baptist Church, he was also one of the first teachers at First Select Colored School.  He owned the Empire House Hotel located on King Street between Payne and Fayette Streets.

---

George Lewis Seaton

Politician / Master Carpenter / Builder

George Lewis Seaton was the first African American elected to the Virginia General Assembly from Alexandria, in 1869. A master carpenter and builder, he constructed the Seaton School for Boys, the Hallowell School for Girls, the Odd Fellows Hall, and was a founder of the Colored Building Association and the Colored YMCA. He lived at 404 South Royal Street.