Suffolk Living magazine by Suffolk News-Herald

suffolklivingmag.com

Andy Damiani

The best of Suffolk living and A TV Trailblazer

january/february 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ vol. 7, no. 1

“HOLY COW” Are You Ready To “MOOOVE”?

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FEATURE

A few of our favorite faces and scenes of 2015

contents jan - feb | 2016 27

WHERE AM I? | Think you know Suffolk well? Then see if you can identify this photo.

18-19

Suffolk Snapshots | Take a look at yourself, Suffolk.

Advertising rates and information available upon request. Subscriptions are $20 annually in-state; $25 annually out-of-state; $30 for international subscriptions. Please make checks payable to Suffolk Publications, LLC P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439

Damiani in Suffolk

20 You might know Andy Damiani as a former mayor of Suffolk or, perhaps, Mr. Downtown. But he’s also a real-life “Son of Bitche.” And that’s a great compliment.

On the cover suffolklivingmag.com

24 Long before Walter Cecil Rawls’ philanthropy funded a library, he was a pioneer in the development of televisions.

16 ‘Thanks for making my pin-up girl, Lois, your centerfold. I always knew she was.’

Andy Damiani

THE BEST OF SUFFOLK LIVING AND A TV TRAILBLAZER

january/february 2016 • vol. 7, no. 1

Andy Damiani, by John H. Sheally II

editor's note jan-feb

2016 A pause for reflection Spotlight on SL staff Dana Snow Dana Snow recently transferred to Suffolk from Ahoskie, N.C. Dana and her husband, Steve, have two grown sons, Winfield and Eric. She is also a new grandmother to 5-monthold Luke. She loves fishing and photography.

EDITORIAL R.E. Spears III Editor Tracy Agnew News Editor news@suffolklivingmag.com

ADVERTISING

Earl Jones Marketing Consultant Nathan Richardson Marketing Consultant Kimberly Osborne Marketing Consultant Dana Snow Marketing Consultant sales@suffolklivingmag.com

With the weather turning cold and bleak, it’s tempting to sit near the fireplace and think of better (or at least warmer) days this time of year. In the interest of creating a few warm fuzzies to help push back the winter blahs, we’re going to indulge you a bit in this edition of Suffolk Living magazine. Our theme this time around is “Memories,” and as you can probably guess, that means we’re taking a look back. Nothing says “nostalgia” quite like the flicker of an old black-and-white television program. Maybe you already knew a factory once churned out General Electric television sets in an industrial park in North Suffolk. But did you know that one of the pioneers of the industry, long before that factory was built, was Walter Cecil Rawls, whose family lived in and loved Suffolk and other parts of Western Tidewater for many years? Frank Roberts, who had a 60-year career spanning newspapers, radio and television, looked into the matter for us and shares his findings in a story on pages 24-26 about Rawls and his contributions to the early science of the broadcast industry. You might not have memories of Mr. Rawls, but your childhood television memories owe much to his work. At 94 years old, Andy Damiani has stored up lots of memories, and anyone who has ever spent more than a few minutes with him in his beloved downtown Suffolk can attest that he’s eager to share them — and something of a master at the art of storytelling. Lesser known is Damiani’s penchant for collecting the letters, files, stories, video and other memorabilia that provide backup for those stories. Damiani recently donated his extensive archives to the Historical Society of Virginia in Richmond. The donation was the fruition of a lot of hard work by writer Phyllis Speidell and photographer John Sheally, who are also working on a biography of the former mayor who is often known as Mr. Downtown. The two share some of their impressions in a special feature on pages 20-23. Finally, because we’re feeling a bit nostalgic ourselves, we’ve included a look back at some of our favorite Suffolk Living faces and scenes from last year. We’ve seen and shared some incredible photos and some touching stories, and we enjoyed taking a look back through the pages of 2015 and remembering the people who made this job so interesting along the way. You’ll find that feature on pages 28-30. Thanks for coming along for the ride and for sharing our memories. We hope this edition will warm your soul.

PRODUCTION Troy Cooper Designer

God bless, Res Spears, Editor

ADMINISTRATION John Carr Publisher

Suffolk Living is published six times per year by Suffolk Publications, LLC. P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439 www.suffolklivingmag.com • (757) 539-3437

DREAM BIG

PE BIG

RELAY BIG

Relay For Life of Suffolk

Friday, May 20th, 2016 | 6:00pm- :00am | Nansemond River High School

We need Your Team! Suffolk Relay for Life Friday, May 20, 2016 from 6:00pm -6:00 am Nansemond River High School YOUR SUPPORT CAN HELP US FIND CANCER'S CAUSES AND CURES THROUGH GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH. As the largest private, nonprofit funder of cancer research, we've played a role in nearly every cancer breakthrough in recent history. In 2013, we marked a 20 percent decline in cancer death rates since 1991. We fill a unique need with our research, funding young investigators who have trouble getting funded for new ideas. Our track record of funding Nobel Prize winners early in their careers demonstrates our ability to identify the best and brightest ideas. YOUR SUPPORT HELPS DISCOVER NEW WAYS TO PREVENT CANCER OR FIND IT AT ITS EARLIEST, MOST TREATABLE STAGE AND HELPS PEOPLE TAKE STEPS TO STAY HEALTHY. A substantial proportion of cancers could be prevented if people did what we know works: avoid tobacco, maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise, and get recommended cancer screenings. We spread the word in communities across the country and fight for local, state, and federal policies that help keep everyone healthy. YOUR SUPPORT ALLOWS US TO DO THE MOST TO HELP PEOPLE WITH CANCER TODAY. We're here 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help people with cancer and their families through every step of the cancer experience. We provide reliable information about cancer and treatment options, and free services like transportation to and from cancer treatment or a free place to stay while receiving treatment away from home. YOUR SUPPORT HELPS FIGHT CANCER AS MUCH THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY AS IN THE LABORATORY. Through our nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkTM (ACS CAN), we work with lawmakers everywhere to make this world a healthier place to live and we rally communities around the globe to join our fight.

www.relayforlife.org/suffolkva Chelsea.Peoples@cancer.org www.facebook.com/SuffolkRelay Receive Text Reminders: 5964 to phone #22723

Lynn Wehner and her husband John are current Relay For Life Event Leadership team members and have taken on the Event Logistics this year. Lynn has been involved for quite some time and her husband has always been by her side to help. He is a survivor. Here is Lynn’s story as told by her… “I got involved with Relay over a decade ago as my best friend fought Stage 4 breast cancer. Chris’s lead got me involved in Daffodils Days, which led to Relay. She was inspirational in her fight and continues to inspire me. The fight came right to our doorstep as my mom fought recurrent meningioma with a 4th surgery in Jan 2012 and then the stunning diagnosis of John with AML in April 2012. He was initially treated at Sentara Obici, then had a bone marrow transplant at MCV that September. Mom lost her fight in April 2013, but John took his first lap as a survivor at Relay in May 2013. We joined the committee last year, and took a bigger role this year. A defining moment – and quintessentially Suffolk – was the day he crossed the 2 year post transplant milestone and climbed on his John Deere tractor to celebrate. Our family picture for our 25th anniversary just a few weeks later is on that same tractor – all in John Deere gear (my nickname for John is “John Deere”) John is a 22 year Navy veteran and still works for the Department of the Navy. We are still in touch with the nurses at Obici who gave so much of themselves in the care for ALL of us those first harrowing 30 days. “We would love for you to get involved and join us around the track at Relay For Life this May!”

SIGN YOUR TEAM UP!

8 suffolk living

what to do Send us your news To submit your calendar or news item, simply email it to: news@suffolklivingmag.com

Antiques Show Saturday and Sunday February 27-28 Sponsored by the Suffolk Art League, the 33rd Antiques Show and Sale will feature approximately 40 antiques and collectibles dealers from Hampton Roads and the midAtlantic area. Crystal and clock repair will also be available, and food will be available onsite, so you can take a break from shopping to enjoy stew, chicken salad, barbecue and homemade desserts. The show will be held at Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fork Middle School, and the cost of admission is $6. Doors will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit www.suffolkartleague.org.

suffolk living 9

what to do Ongoing

The Suffolk Art League’s annual student art show, “The Exhibit of Excellence,” will be held at the Suffolk Art Gallery Feb. 2-28. This juried exhibition will feature the best artwork by Suffolk’s 10th, 11th and 12th grade students. Alex Mann, the Brock Curator of American Art at the Chrysler Museum, will serve as the juror. The exhibition is free. The gallery is located at 118 Bosley Ave. For more information, visit www.suffolkartleague.org. Saturday January 16

In celebration of Beatrix Potter’s 150th birthday anniversary, the Enchantment Theatre, in collaboration with the Estate of Beatrix Potter and Penguin Books UK, brings her captivating stories to life in a special live performance at 3 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 W. Finney Ave. Using fantastic masks, whimsical puppets, gorgeous scenery and original music, the magical, marvelous world of Beatrix Potter comes alive on stage. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students 2 to 18 years old. Visit www.suffolkcenter.org for more information. Saturday January 23

The Nansemond-Suffolk Academy Art Show and Sale, set for Jan. 23-31, attracts artists and art connoisseurs throughout Hampton Roads. The show boasts a wonderful diversity of media from more than 150 artists. Prices range from $25 to $7,000. The artwork adorns the Lower School hallways, and teachers use it as an opportunity to enhance their curriculum. The show is free and open to the public Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. and Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.nsacademy.org. Sunday January 24

The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts will host the Virginia Opera’s “Deep River Production: The Marian Anderson Story” at 3 p.m. The production celebrates Anderson’s rise to a preeminent spot among the world’s concert artists in spite of racial attitudes of the times, which she met with courage, grace and determination. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students. For more information, visit www.suffolkcenter.org. Friday January 29

The Bethlehem Ruritan Club will hold a Ruritan “Jam” from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Bethlehem Ruritan Community Center, located at 140 Manning Road. An evening of

country, oldies and Motown will feature BJ Norwood and The Desert Dust Band. There is no admission charge, but donations for the band are encouraged, and food and soft drinks are available. In case of snow, the event will be held Feb. 5. For more information call 617-5955.

The Suffolk Art League program will provide an excellent preview for the organization’s bus trip to the Virginia Museum to view the Rodin exhibition on March 10. The lecture is free. For more information, call 514-7284.

Thursday February 4

Rock to the music of the Beatles in an all-new interactive concert experience where the audience creates the playlist for the night. Through laughter and personal stories, “Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience” connects the audience and performers in a way like no other. Each performance becomes a unique and remarkable event. The show comes to the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $35. For more information, visit www.suffolkcenter.org.

Suffolk poet Nathan Richardson will be the host at the Suffolk Art Gallery’s “Poetry, Prose and Pizza” event, beginning at 6 p.m. Poets and spoken-word artists, as well as musicians, are encouraged to sign up for time at the microphone. There is no charge for the event — either for performers or for spectators. For more information, visit www. heartandsoulsuffolk.org. Saturday February 6

Suffolk Humane Society and the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront will host the third annual Paws for the Arts, a semi-formal gala, from 7 to 10 p.m. The event will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres, a wine bar, a cash bar and live entertainment by local musicians and vocalists. A silent auction will precede a live auction with fabulous art, vacations, tickets to local theater and sporting events, spa packages and much more. The society promotes the welfare of companion animals in the community through spay/neuter programs, placing homeless animals in loving permanent homes, and providing quality humane education with an emphasis on responsible pet ownership. Tickets are $50. For more information, visit www. suffolkhumanesociety.org. Sunday February 14

In just a few short minutes on America’s Got Talent, Alice Tan Ridley boldly made herself known to the world when her phenomenal rendition of the Etta James classic, “At Last,” wowed the judges, blew away the audience, and caused the entire nation to take notice. Millions of fans around the world viewed her performances on YouTube. Folks in Suffolk will have the chance to see her in person during a 3 p.m. performance at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. Tickets start at $25. For more information, visit www.suffolkcenter. org. Thursday February 18

Jeffrey Allison, the Paul Mellon Collection Educator at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, will present an illustrated lecture on the sculptor Rodin and the art of his time at 7 p.m. at Lake Prince Woods, 100 Anna Goode Way.

Friday February 19

Friday February 26

The Bethlehem Ruritan Club will hold a Ruritan “Jam” from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Bethlehem Ruritan Community Center, located at 140 Manning Road. An evening of country, oldies and Motown will feature Nancy Joyner and the Early Station Band. There is no admission charge, but donations for the band are encouraged, and food and soft drinks are available. In case of snow, the event will be held March 4. For more information call 617-5955. Saturday February 27

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, the annual fundraiser will be a roarin’ 1920’s-style soiree, “Party Like Gatsby.” What better way to ring in the SCCA’s 10th year than to give a nod to the decadent era of glitz and glamour when the building was constructed — 1922? Tickets cost $125 each after Jan. 15. For more information, visit www.suffolkcenter.org.

Tuesday March 1 The Suffolk Education Foundation will host its second annual Masquerade Gala Celebrating the Arts at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront. This will be an evening of New Orleans Mardi Gras traditions, great Cajun food, and jazz and blues, featuring the original creations of Suffolk Public Schools’ student artists and entertainment by student musicians. Proceeds will benefit Suffolk Public School music and art programs. Tickets are $35 per person, and semi-formal attire and masks are encouraged. For more information, visit www.suffolkeducationfoundation.org.

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suffolk living 11

in the news

GROWN-UP

SPELLING

BEE Abuzz about the ‘Bee’ C an you spell E-X-C-I-T-E-D? That’s the current state of a buzzing hive of spellers in Suffolk who are gearing up for the Suffolk Education Foundation’s first Grown-Up Spelling Bee. “Most people are excited,” said Jennifer Schmack, president of the board of directors for the Suffolk Education Foundation. “But you can tell the people who can’t spell.” The event is set to take place at King’s Fork High School on May 14, only a couple of weeks before the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee, which captures the attention of the nation with youngsters spelling words most grown-ups can’t even define. (Last year’s co-champions spelled “scherenschnitte” and “nunatak” correctly — have fun looking those up.) It’s safe to say the grown-up competitors for the foundation’s fundraiser are hoping for slightly easier words. But if they get a difficult word, they’ll be able to get a spell check, skip it or sting another team by making them spell it — for a fee, of course. A total of 20 three-person teams are needed to participate in the spell-

Story by Tracy Agnew Illustration by Troy Cooper

ing bee. A variety of sponsorship opportunities, including word sponsorships (a doctor who straightens teeth might sponsor “orthodontist,” for example) are available. Schmack said she hopes to get a variety of friendly competitors to participate in the bee. The Suffolk News-Herald already has challenged the city government to put together a team. “We need a police and fire team,” Schmack noted. A buzzing audience also is needed for the event. Tickets are $5 per person, with children 8 and under free. “Hopefully we’ll get buzzing, no pun intended,” Schmack said. Proceeds benefit the programs of the Suffolk Education Foundation, including classroom grants that help teachers provide extras for their students, such as one-on-one tutorials, special science equipment, an expanded summer school program, free books, subscriptions and more. Visit the foundation’s website at www.suffolkeducationfoundation. org or call 775-9682 for more information, and don’t forget how to spell F-U-N.

12 suffolk living

February is -

National Pet Dental Health Month If a musky scent is coming from your pet's mouth, don't ignore it. It could mean something serious. Start with brushing. It might be difficult at first, but you can turn tooth brushing into a bonding experience with your dog or cat. While dental treats and toys are not as effective as brushing, they do promote oral health and help maintain healthy teeth and gums. A cursory dental exam can usually be performed by your veterinarian without sedation. Don't let anesthesia scare you. The benefits of dental cleaning outweighs the possible risks of anesthesia and helps protect your pet's organs, like the heart and kidneys, from the damaging effects of dental disease.

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on vacation During an August missionary trip to Bangkok, Thailand, members of a team from First Baptist Church in Suffolk pause for a photo. From left are Carrie Chappell (a missionary in Bangkok, Thailand), Florence Hobbs, Gary Baker, Deb Rasberry, Gary Saunders, Stan Perry, Tom Greskevitch, David Edgell and Shelby Edgell. Chappellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s husband, Martin, is pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, where this shot was taken. Suffolk Living LOVES mission trips!

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on vacation Jana Peterson, left, of Suffolk, and Katy Graff, of Buckeye, Ariz., visited the Katy Depot Railroad Heritage site in Sedalia, Mo., in September. Peterson took along a copy of Suffolk Living magazine to remind her of home. Next time you’re riding the rails, take your own copy and have someone snap a photo. We love to travel. Send your photos to news@ suffolklivingmag.com.

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A perfect shot To the editor: The “membership” of Chuckatuck Country Club salutes you for composing and publishing an absolutely perfect story about who we are and what we do (“A real turkey shoot,” November/December 2015). Most everyone likes a little publicity now and then, and we are no exception. Quite a few have been out to the shoot and nosed around, and then wrote a piece that made it to print. None ever got it right. Simple as that. You, sir, on the other hand, nailed it, and we (Sharon, myself and the entire membership) can't thank you enough. These days, I am not often a big fan of journalists as a group, but you have a talent that has been honed over the years and captured the grit, the details, and the feel of a crowd. Everyone said it was by far the best piece ever done and your photography was amazing. Our friend Skip (retired Air Force Pilot and Corvette owner) was the older gentleman you featured firing his shotgun with the ejected shell flying off to his right. He saw plenty of excitement in his career (including flying Hurricane Hunters), but he looked like a kid that just got his first BB gun when he saw your fine work. He was tickled pink and couldn't wait to get his copy! And finally, my personal thanks for making my pin-up girl, Lois, your Centerfold. She got home from a hard day at work Friday, and squealed like a little pig when she saw that she is now a “centerfold girl.” I always knew she was. Of course she quickly pointed out that her hair was a mess, and I said it was the first thing I noticed and thought it looked great. Just like your fine story on the Chuckatuck Turkey Shoot — I thought it looked great. Michael Barnes Chuckatuck Turkey Shoot

suffolk living 17

18 suffolk living

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Left: Jonathan Winters, 4-year-old grandson of Carole Pieart of Suffolk, at Christmas; below: Liam and Kaden Jones, grandsons of Jimmy and Katie Jones of Suffolk, making cookies

suffolk living 19

Suffolk Snapshots Top: Jonathan Winters, 4-year-old grandson of Carole Pieart of Suffolk, with Santa; middle: Gracie and Makayla Jones, granddaughters of Jimmy and Katie Jones of Suffolk, making cookies; and bottom: Gracie, Makayla, Liam and Kaden, with Santa

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Damiani:

From ‘Son of Bitche’ to Suffolk Story by Phyllis Speidell Photos by John H. Sheally II

o you think you know Andy Damiani? Of course he’s a former councilman and mayor, businessman, First Citizen and fervent, if sometimes flamboyant, Suffolk booster. But when Damiani asked us to capture his life in a biography, John Sheally and I realized that, even as journalists, we never saw the other sides of Mr. Downtown. No one called him “Andy” until he came to Suffolk in the late 1950s. Born Andrew Damiani in Richmond, in 1921, he was “Andre” to everyone he knew. His mother was from Corsica. His father was a naturalized U.S. citizen by virtue of his birth in Pensacola, Fla., where Damiani’s grandparents ran a produce business for a few years before returning to Corsica. You might remember another well-known Corsican whose personality and achievements also surpassed his physical stature — Napoleon Bonaparte. He is a classically trained musician with a love of jazz — and Mozart. Damiani picked up a violin when he was in elementary school and moved on to the double bass at Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond. He joined the musicians' union before he was 16 so he could play paying gigs See DAMIANI page 22

suffolk living 21

22 suffolk living damiani continued from page 20

around Richmond. Wanting more, Damiani packed up his bass and went to Manhattan to audition, cold, at the Juilliard School of Music. He hung around Tin Pan Alley and picked up jobs around Manhattan and the Catskills to pay his tuition. Damiani is a “Son of Bitche” When he was drafted out of Juilliard and into the Army in 1942, Damiani did double duty — as an infantry soldier and as a squad leader in the 100th Infantry headquarters band, where he played E-flat horn as well as bass. Stateside, after basic training, the band played at war bond rallies and military ceremonies. Damiani also teamed up with a guitarist and a vibraphone player to form a trio that played at the general’s official functions. That all changed, however, when the 100th Infantry was deployed to Europe. The 100th shipped out in 1944 and fought its way across France toward Alsace-Lorraine and the Nazi-held citadel of Bitche. Damiani stood guard duty and played the foxhole circuit, buoying the morale of soldiers trying to survive the winter campaign. Three months of fighting finally pushed the Nazis out of Bitche and earned the 100th the title of “Sons of Bitche.” The general ordered the band to play as the troops marched into the town in mid-March 1945. “There I was in a dirt courtyard, one foot in a pile of manure, a carbine at my side and my horn in my hands, but I don’t know that I ever played a note that day. I was too busy watching for German snipers on the rooftops,” Damiani said. Damiani traded fatigues for center stage The war over, he maneuvered his discharge to Paris so he could search for his grandfather, a Corsican winemaker in hiding from the Nazis. Grandfather found, Damiani also found a piano player and a guitarist to form a jazz trio. They toured Europe for the next decade, performing all over France, Norway and Switzerland. He performed with Eartha Kitt and other celebrities and made friends among them, including American singer Jane Morgan. The proof is in the archives Damiani is a born entertainer and storyteller. He doesn’t carry a camera or a journal but records everything in his mind. “I tell my stories so I won’t forget,” he said. Unlike most storytellers, he compiled an archive that corroborates his stories from Richmond to Manhattan to Bitche to Paris to Suffolk. His archive is now securely ensconced in the Historical Society of Virginia in Richmond. He is a natural — and often frustrated — urban planner “In Suffolk I floated around a lot of ideas. Some stuck,” Damiani said See damiani page 23

Andy Damiani has kept meticulous records and boxes full of mementos from his many adventures. They have been collected for a biography due to be published this year.

suffolk living 23 damiani continued from page 23

about his ideas to make the core city a vibrant, mixed-use community of residences, businesses and municipal offices. He opened the first laundromat in downtown in the 1960s, when many homes were still without indoor plumbing. He created the first downtown business mall at Washington Square and rehabbed numerous buildings in Suffolk’s central business district. “I learned early on that you have to grow vertically, not horizontally,” he said. “I was always pretty much urban by instinct, and my ideas came from Richmond, New York and Paris. The military also had an impact. You don’t say we can’t do something — you just do it.” At 94, Damiani has spent a lifetime doing just that. Writer Phyllis Speidell and photographer John Sheally, who worked together for years in The Virginian-Pilot’s Suffolk newsroom, are producing Andy Damiani’s biography “Damiani Here — the Story and Stories of Andy Damiani” which is due to be released in 2016. ←

The sight of Mr. Downtown, Andy Damiani, walking around downtown Suffolk is nearly as iconic as Mr. Peanut himself.

24 suffolk living story by Frank Roberts submitted images

n 1929 — before talking motion pictures and between world wars — television was a reality in at least two regions of the United States. Three afternoons a week, telecasts were already under way in Schenectady, N.Y. on WGY. And in Suffolk, Va., businessman-philanthropist Walter Cecil Rawls was building television receivers in an area where there was nothing to receive. He established W. C. Rawls & Co. Inc. and started manufacturing combination radio and television receiving sets in console cabinets, according to the National Cyclopedia of American Biography. These consoles were considered the first television receiving sets manufactured and sold on a commercial basis. "It could be the first," said Walter Cecil Rawls Jr., an Orange Park, Fla., attorney, referring to the consoles manufactured by his father, who died in 1964. "At least (it was) one of the first commercial television sets manufactured and sold — made in this country for sale." WGY went on the air in 1928. In 1930, NBC operated W2XBS, an experimental station in New York City. But a year before NBC got off the ground, Rawls was building his television sets in Suffolk. According to an anonymous biography in the files of the Walter Cecil Rawls Library in Courtland, Rawls’ sets were "recognized in the business world as the very first TV receivers ever sold to the American public." "My father also had the principle of color TV but didn't patent it," Rawls Jr. said. "The disc would go so fast it could create colors in rainbows." “RCA picked up the system later," he said. "They made the same system, but in tubes. My father didn't realize what he had." "Rawls designed a television receiver based on his knowledge of the motion picture projector," according to Cyclopedia. "He employed engineers to perfect a pilot model." "They built the set," his son said, "but he gave them instructions on how to do it." Edwin C. Coulbourn, who had been one of Rawls' closest friends, said, "The sets were built in a brick building on Morgan Street," near the Planters Peanut factory in Suffolk. The Zenith Corp. paid him for the rights on a television tube he developed there.” Company records do not go back that far, according to John Taylor, director of public relations for Zenith in Glenview, Ill. "But there is a good possibility that it happened," he said. "We didn't sell picture tubes until the 1940s, but we had been working on them in the late 1920s." Rawls never became rich on his contributions to the birth of the television industry. His sets were operationally successful, but they were financial losses. See RAWLS page 26

suffolk living 25

26 suffolk living Rawls continued from page 24

Rawls Jr. said that the 50 sets his father built were used mostly for research and development. "TV didn't go in those years," he explained. "Transmission was only good for a certain (distance). You needed stations and towers to carry it farther. The country was not set up for commercial television." And people were not ready to accept the idea. "Dad used to say that people looked at him as if he was crazy," his son recalled. Those people with the technical knowledge, however, did not think that way. "Dad was in personal contact, had a lot of conversations, with pioneer leaders in the television industry," Rawls Jr. said. "Magnavox called him often and took his advice." But when the Great Depression hit, Walter Cecil Rawls stepped out of the television picture. The Depression eliminated financial backing of anything connected with that infant industry, and Rawlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; television business went down the tubes. Through the years, according to his son, "he lost fortunes and made some more." But he began with very little. Rawls was born June 13, 1895, on a farm near Ivor, the ninth of the 13 children of Annie Cofer and David Nathaniel Rawls. His father served with the Confederacy during the Civil War. The Rawls family moved to Suffolk while Walter Cecil was still in school. He dropped out in the eighth grade, however, opting instead for jobs as a newspaper carrier and as a silent movie projectionist at the Academy of Music. He began to save his money and, with his first $100, became a landowner. Because of his age, his mother had to sign the necessary papers. Using borrowed money, he built a house and rented it, a procedure he repeated with 12 more homes.

Rawls was such a successful 17-year-old that he was invited to enter into a partnership with an established Suffolk businessman, J. Walter Hosier, running a real estate-insurance business. In 1917, Rawls was named manager of the Trust Department of Bankers Trust Co. in Norfolk. The next year, when he was 22, he became the firm's vice-president. In 1920, he moved to New York City, as that company's credit investigator. In 1933, he moved to the Midwest, working in various positions with E. H. Rollins & Sons, members of the New York Stock Exchange. They were, at that time, one of the nation's largest underwriters of securities. He invested some of his earnings with Magnavox, the company for which he once served as an unofficial adviser. "He bought them when it was $3 a share," his son said, "and he grew with the company." Fame and fortune gave the Southampton County farm boy the opportunity to constructively hobnob with society. For the most part, Rawls confined his charitable contributions to his home area and to neighboring Gates County, N.C., where his wife, the former Ella Townsend, was born. The recipients included churches, schools and other organizations. He and his wife returned to Virginia in 1956, making their home in Blueberry Hill, near Smithfield, and attending Oakland Congregational Christian Church. One of Rawls' youthful ambitions was to be a painter. His return to Virginia gave him the opportunity to pursue artistic endeavors and to produce peaceful landscape scenes that were good enough for exhibition. Rawls retired on a fortune made in banking and investments, yet his fame came from a financial failure â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the television sets he manufactured before there was television. â&#x2020;?

suffolk living 27

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28 suffolk living

A few of our favorite faces and scenes of 2015

Maya Holihan shows off one of the many wedding dresses available at Maya Couture on Main.

Top: Greg Rice and Olâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; John make a great timber-harvesting team; bottom: Lone Star Lakes Park is a haven for turtles, eagles and other wildlife, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of Suffolkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bestkept secrets.

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suffolk living 29

Alyssa Calderone of Suffolk twirls a hoop during the set by Robert DeLong at the Lava Music Festival.

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Ticket info at www.suffolkeducationfoundation.org

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Brianca Wolfrey created a Chocolate Meringue with Toasted Hazelnuts and Raspberries dessert for River Stone Chophouse to win the Presentation Award in the 2015 Suffolk Healthy Desserts Contest.

30 suffolk living

Members of the “Chuckatuck Country Club” fire at targets during an October turkey shoot. The shoots are open to the public every Saturday.

Suffolk photographer Phillip Long launched a Phantom DJI quadcopter from the Isle of Wight County side of Chuckatuck Creek to get this shot of Eclipse and the Sleepy Lake community.

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suffolk living 31

where am I?

n each edition the Suffolk Living staff provides a challenge of sorts, testing how much of Suffolk you really know. We photograph some location in Suffolk that is readily accessible and open to the public, and see if you can tell us where it is.

If you know where this photo was taken, submit your answer, along with your name and contact information to news@suffolklivingmag.com. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re right, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to any one of our partner advertisers. So, if you know where this is, let us know. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re right, you could be a winner. Go out and enjoy Suffolk!

32 suffolk living

suffolk scene

Chamber Mixer The Suffolk division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce hosted a holiday social at Sentara BelleHarbour on Dec. 8. Business leaders from across Hampton Roads turned out for a little holiday cheer and mingling. PHOTOS BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS

Claretny Brito, Michael Barnes and Lousi Costa

Tony Coppa and Lauren Wiswell

Aionnte Cooke

Sabrina Evans, Chandler Turner and Tracy Link

suffolk living 33

Oyster Roast The Crittenden, Hobson & Eclipse Ruritan Club sponsored its annual oyster roast on Nov. 14. Hundreds turned out to jam to Island Boy, visit with friends and devour oysters and beer. PHOTOS BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS

suffolk scene

Jeff Pierce and Jimmie White enjoy the good food.

Perrin Priest shucks oysters.

A group of friends enjoys the fun and fellowship.

In between oysters and beer, there was line dancing to the sounds of Island Boy.

Alin Zotar and Isroil Oripov take a break from the festivities.

34 suffolk living

suffolk scene

Stuff the Caboose The Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum sponsored a “Stuff the Caboose” Toys for Tots toy drive in December, and Santa — assuring everyone that he does crossfit — showed up for the festivities. PHOTOS BY R.E. Spears III

From left, Keanna Johnson, Shauntrice Anthony, Santa and Margie Wiley

Santa and 4-year-old Jackson parks, son of Leigh Anne and Douglas Parks

From left, Santa, Margie Wiley, Shauntrice Anthony and Keanna Johnson Megan Markum and Santa Claus

suffolk living 35

Tree Lighting Suffolk kicked off the Christmas holiday with the Grand Illumination on Nov. 20 at Market Park. Several hundred people turned out for the tree-lighting ceremony, music by a John F. Kennedy Middle School choral group and lap time with Santa. PHOTOS BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS

John F. Kennedy Middle School's choral group entertains the crowd after the tree is lit.

Santa and Mason Criner

Santa and Jonah Campbell

Santa and Jacob CurranÂ

suffolk scene

36 suffolk living

a look back

orking as an investigative photographer for the National Child Labor Committee, Lewis Hine (1874-1940) documented working and living conditions of children in the United States between 1908 and 1924. These photos were taken at the Suffolk Knitting Mills in June 1911 and give a stark and uncompromising glimpse into the lives of many young people who lived in Suffolk at the time. Most of the children were under 14, Hine said at the time. One of the 14-year-olds who had been working there for four years told him she earned about a dollar a day. The entire photo collection consists of more than 5,100 photographic prints and 355 glass negatives, given to the Library of Congress, along with the NCLC records, in 1954 by Gertrude Folks Zimand, acting for the NCLC in her capacity as chief executive.

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Last edition’s Where Am I? There was a time when fire pulls like the one featured in the Where Am I contest in the November/December edition of Suffolk Living magazine could have been found all around Suffolk. Today, with cellphones being ubiquitous, one would have to look pretty carefully to find one of these old emergency I devices. Catherine where am I? Ilich has not only seen one, she also knew this particular one was located at Fire Station No. 9, the Chuckatuck Volunteer Fire Department, located on Kings Highway. Her name was chosen randomly from those who guessed correctly, and she’ll win a $25 gift certificate from the advertiser of her choice for her eagle eye. For your chance to win, see Page 27 for this edition’s challenge. suffolk living 27

If you know where this photo was taken, submit your answer, along with your name and contact information to news@suffolklivingmag.com. If you’re right, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to any one of our partner advertisers. So, if you know where this is, let us know. If you’re right, you could be a winner. Go out and enjoy Suffolk!

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scrapbook

Snowy Stable: The stable and carriage house at the Jones home on Bank Street are seen blanketed in snow in this undated photo. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; PhotO Courtesy of Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society

suffolk living 39

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