Dominion, Library of Virginia honor ‘extraordinary people during challenging times’

By George Copeland Jr.

A Roanoke pastor and civil rights leader, the first Black woman nuclear engineer at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and the first Black NASCAR race winner were among the six African-Americans honored during the 11th annual “Strong Men & Women in Virginia History” awards program June 15 at the Hilton Richmond Hotel and Spa. The annual awards ceremony recognizes the determination and perseverance displayed by extraordinary people during challenging times, according to the event sponsors.

The late Rev. R.R. Wilkinson of Hill Street Baptist Church, engineer Sheila Bowen Taylor and stock car driver Wendell Oliver Scott were recognized for their contributions to the state by Dominion Energy and the Library of Virginia.

Also honored were Appomattox County farmer and activist Ora Scruggs McCoy, retired Air Force Pilot Quentin J. Smith Jr. and Kendall N. Holbrook, CEO of Dev Technology Group and a mentor for women seeking roles in STEM fields and inner-city middle school students.

Rev. Wilkinson first served as pastor of Hill Street Baptist in 1958 following four years in the Navy during World War II, and earning degrees in divinity and education from Virginia Union University. Hill Street was the last in a long line of churches Rev. Wilkinson led including Mount Nebo Baptist, Little Union Baptist and Good Hope Baptist in his native Amelia County. During his 30 years with the church, Rev. Wilkinson also was president of the Roanoke Branch of the NAACP, leading the group from 1959 to 1968 in efforts to integrate Roanoke County and battles against urban redevelopment that threatened Black neighborhoods. In addition, Rev. Wilkinson is also the namesake for the Roanoke NAACP’s annual Citizen of the Year Award, The Rev. R.R. Wilkinson Memorial

Award for Social Justice.

A native of St. Juliens Creek community in Chesapeake, Ms. Bowen Taylor was the second woman and the first Black woman to work as a nuclear engineer at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, serving in 1981 in its Nuclear Engineering and Planning Department. There, she would not only work on submarines and aircraft carriers, but also be instrumental in organizing the Hampton Roads chapter of the Society of Women Engineers. The Society helps to connect women to roles in engineering, something Ms. Taylor continues in her own way to this day, as she mentors youths and others while promoting the value of diversity in STEM fields.

Mr. Scott, hailing from Danville, rose from previous work as a taxi driver, Army mechanic during World War II and moonshine runner to become the first African-American NASCAR driver and team owner to compete and win in its highest divisions. Originally becoming a stock car driver as a way to increase AfricanAmerican interest in the sport, Mr. Scott would race in 495 events across 13 seasons, finishing in the top 10 in 147 races. Despite his skill, he continued to face discrimination throughout his career, and wouldn’t be fully recognized for his accomplishments until after his retirement in 1973 and death in 1990.

Ms. McCoy has been a tireless defender of her family’s farm in Appomattox County and advocate for her community for decades. For her work on the farm, Ms. McCoy was recognized as Farmer of the Year in Virginia in 2021 by the National Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Ms. McCoy also served on the Appomattox County School Board from 1986 to 1994, the Board of Historic Resources for the Commonwealth of Virginia from 2004 to 2012, and the Appomattox Voters League, among other roles. She currently chairs the board of the Carver-