and if you've demonstrated that you have power. And that's exactly what Gov. Mark Warner did in the recent session of the General Assembly."
That's what this list is about: Who can make things happen.
There are other lists that rank the wealthy, the influential and the famous. There are lists of philanthropists and men and women of the moment. But power, we found, is different. It is a combination of all those things, yet it stands apart.
In creating the Power List, we considered — and debated — a variety of criteria. First we pulled headlines, searched our memories and archives, scanned proxy statements and called on inside sources across the region in a variety of disciplines. Our initial list steadily grew.
As we refined our search, we asked ourselves to what extent each person affects the areas of business and economics, public policy and the lives of others. We attempted to quantify the subjective. We looked at philanthropic efforts and pet projects. We also assigned each person what we called a "Q-Factor" score, representing name recognition, overall influence and reputation — those intangible, elusive qualities that build a person's brand as a power player.
The process was at once illuminating and frustrating, mostly because it forced us to compare Richmonders who cross consitutencies, occupations and affiliations. How do you compare an arts philanthropist with a state senator? A bishop with a businessman? The secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury with a grocery and financial magnate?
We tried. And in the end we asked: Who has the abilities, the resources and the local reputation to most effectively get something done in Richmond?
The answers — who isn't on the list, who is and where they rank — offer insight into Richmond's power structure. It takes time to earn power in Richmond, which is why the list's upper ranks aren't surprising. There are few women. And there are many folks likely to drop or rise dramatically next year. Power is in flux, and there are those working their way up.
For Warner, things seem to be on the rise.
Despite a seemingly hopeless standoff in the legislature, and with Republicans in control, Democrat Warner pushed through his two-year budget, which included a record tax increase of about $1.4 billion.
How? He did it, Sabato says, by wielding the strength of his office, using the news media to peck away at his opponents and leveraging unlikely allies in a small but key group of Senate Republicans. He essentially overwhelmed Republicans in the House of Delegates, and the budget impasse ended May 7.
Warner also helped John Kerry win Virginia by a mile in February's Democratic primary — just when Kerry needed it. Warner's efforts curried favor from Democrats on a national level and earned him some buzz as a long-shot on a list of potential vice-presidential nominees. Warner's term ends in January 2006, but the Democrats will be looking for someone to run against Sen. George Allen that fall.
Warner isn't short on financial resources, though most are in trust during his term in office. The multimillionaire has long been influential in the business community, most notably for his high-tech interests and his venture-capital firm. Before he became governor, he invested much of his time and money into health care and education. He helped launch the Virginia Health Care Foundation, which opens access to medical services for uninsured and underserved Virginians. And his Virginia High-Tech Partnership, which he created in 1997, links students at historically black colleges and universities with careers in technology. There is family support, too. Warner is married to Lisa Collis, with whom he has three daughters — Madison, Gillian and Eliza.
What's next for Warner? If he keeps playing the power game, Sabato says, he can only get stronger: "His success in exercising power gives him more power."
Then again, maybe next year's No. 1 is a little farther down this list.
2. William H. Goodwin Jr.
That's what this list is about: Who can make things happen.
There are other lists that rank the wealthy, the influential and the famous. There are lists of philanthropists and men and women of the moment. But power, we found, is different. It is a combination of all those things, yet it stands apart.
In creating the Power List, we considered — and debated — a variety of criteria. First we pulled headlines, searched our memories and archives, scanned proxy statements and called on inside sources across the region in a variety of disciplines. Our initial list steadily grew.
As we refined our search, we asked ourselves to what extent each person affects the areas of business and economics, public policy and the lives of others. We attempted to quantify the subjective. We looked at philanthropic efforts and pet projects. We also assigned each person what we called a "Q-Factor" score, representing name recognition, overall influence and reputation — those intangible, elusive qualities that build a person's brand as a power player.
The process was at once illuminating and frustrating, mostly because it forced us to compare Richmonders who cross consitutencies, occupations and affiliations. How do you compare an arts philanthropist with a state senator? A bishop with a businessman? The secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury with a grocery and financial magnate?
We tried. And in the end we asked: Who has the abilities, the resources and the local reputation to most effectively get something done in Richmond?
The answers — who isn't on the list, who is and where they rank — offer insight into Richmond's power structure. It takes time to earn power in Richmond, which is why the list's upper ranks aren't surprising. There are few women. And there are many folks likely to drop or rise dramatically next year. Power is in flux, and there are those working their way up.
For Warner, things seem to be on the rise.
Despite a seemingly hopeless standoff in the legislature, and with Republicans in control, Democrat Warner pushed through his two-year budget, which included a record tax increase of about $1.4 billion.
How? He did it, Sabato says, by wielding the strength of his office, using the news media to peck away at his opponents and leveraging unlikely allies in a small but key group of Senate Republicans. He essentially overwhelmed Republicans in the House of Delegates, and the budget impasse ended May 7.
Warner also helped John Kerry win Virginia by a mile in February's Democratic primary — just when Kerry needed it. Warner's efforts curried favor from Democrats on a national level and earned him some buzz as a long-shot on a list of potential vice-presidential nominees. Warner's term ends in January 2006, but the Democrats will be looking for someone to run against Sen. George Allen that fall.
Warner isn't short on financial resources, though most are in trust during his term in office. The multimillionaire has long been influential in the business community, most notably for his high-tech interests and his venture-capital firm. Before he became governor, he invested much of his time and money into health care and education. He helped launch the Virginia Health Care Foundation, which opens access to medical services for uninsured and underserved Virginians. And his Virginia High-Tech Partnership, which he created in 1997, links students at historically black colleges and universities with careers in technology. There is family support, too. Warner is married to Lisa Collis, with whom he has three daughters — Madison, Gillian and Eliza.
What's next for Warner? If he keeps playing the power game, Sabato says, he can only get stronger: "His success in exercising power gives him more power."
Then again, maybe next year's No. 1 is a little farther down this list.
2. William H. Goodwin Jr.
Wealth alone would place Bill Goodwin, 63, among the top 10 — his net worth is unknown, somewhere between $100 million and $1 billion. But his shrewd yet caring approach to business and philanthropy makes him the most powerful moneyman in Richmond. He is well-known for his generosity — giving some $100 million to various causes, including $25 million to MCV's Massey Cancer Center — and he's also quick to pull his support when he doesn't agree. The Darden School alum — who along with Beverley "Booty" Armstrong owns the West Creek business park in Goochland County — is most famous for turning around AMF Bowling and selling it to New York brokerage Goldman Sachs for $1.5 billion in 1996.
3. James E. Ukrop
The senior Ukrop brother is chairman of Ukrop's Super Markets Inc. and First Market Bank. He serves on the business boards of Legg Mason and Owens & Minor. The avid golfer and William & Mary alum is most recognized for his spirited involvement in community matters and, he says self-deprecatingly, his absent-mindedness. He chairs the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation and the Metropolitan Richmond Convention and Visitors Bureau. He's vice chairman of the Virginia High-Speed Rail Development Committee and works prodigiously with Richmond Renaissance. He also serves on the boards of the Coalition for a Greater Richmond and the Council for America's First Freedom. He's often out of town, out of the country, even, scouting people and programs — such as teachers or Charleston's Spoleto Festival — he'd like to woo to Richmond. He is married to Barbara Berkeley Ukrop, who serves on the College of William & Mary board of visitors and on the board of The Community Foundation. The couple has two sons, Scott and Ted, and four grandchildren.
4. J. Stewart Bryan III
Media General Inc. owns the Richmond Times-Dispatch, 24 other dailies, more than 100 other publications, 26 television stations and more than 50 online enterprises. But Bryan, chairman and chief executive, says the company's not a collection of news outlets. "We're an information company," he stresses. And he'll deliver it any way his customers want. The ex-Marine serves on the board of the Virginia Historical Society and is charged with raising $53 million for the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He says he has no plans to retire. And if an FCC rule is lifted banning companies from owning newspapers and broadcast outlets in the same market, Bryan most likely will snap up a local TV station to add to his Richmond media empire.
5. John W. Snow
As head of the Bush economic team and fifth in line to succeed the president, Treasury Secretary John Snow is at the center of political power in Washington. Succeeding the controversial Paul O'Neill, Snow strengthened the Bush team and guided the 2003 tax cuts through Congress. In his 20 years with CSX Corp. — formerly headquartered in Richmond — Snow elevated the company's profile and finances. He's served in varied capacities with the U.S. Department of Transportation, and while working in the private sector, played a major role in supporting passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement. He keeps a house in Richmond with wife, Carolyn, and can be seen frequenting West End restaurants and local golf courses — on occasion with a Secret Service contingent. A former economics professor with a Ph.D. in economics and a law degree, Snow arrived in Richmond in 1980 when railroad giant CSX was formed through a merger. A decade later he became chairman of the board. He quickly sold off the company's non-rail assets and focused the business on being the largest railroad east of the Mississippi.
6. Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder
The grandson of slaves, Wilder graduated from Virginia Union University with a degree in chemistry in 1951. He is a Korean War veteran and a recipient of the Bronze Star for heroism in combat. After working as a chemist in the state medical examiner's office, Wilder took advantage of benefits provided by the G.I. Bill of Rights and studied law at Howard University. In 1959 he earned his degree, passed the Virginia bar exam and set up the law firm Wilder, Gregory and Associates. He won a special election for the Virginia Senate in 1969, and he spent 10 years in the General Assembly before being elected lieutenant governor in 1985. Four years later, he became Virginia's 66th governor — the first elected African-American governor in U.S. history. Wilder is remembered by most as a strong financial manager during a period of economic tumult. He supported community-minded initiatives, particularly upgrades at many of Virginia's colleges, mental health facilities and state parks. His biggest power play of late was leading the campaign for a directly elected mayor in Richmond — even dropping by the U.S. Department of Justice to help make his case. He's now decided to run for the post himself.
7. Eugene P. Trani
President of Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System, Trani oversees one of the nation's top research universities and the region's ninth-largest employer, an enterprise worth more than $1.4 billion in annual revenues. Now in his 15th year, he has transformed VCU from an urban college with sparse funds and resources into a dynamic network of 12 institutions of higher learning. He has created numerous programs — such as the Carver-VCU Partnership — that link VCU students and faculty with the community, and he has established ties with business and governmental leaders throughout the city and state. He helped develop the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park, and VCU is helping revitalize Broad Street. Trani also serves as chairman of Richmond Renaissance, and has received numerous awards for his commitment to public service, technology and economic development.
8. Marilyn B. Tavenner
She started as a nursing supervisor in 1981 at what is now CJW Medical Center. Then Tavenner — sharp, insightful and a big-picture thinker — rose like a quickening pulse. In January, she became one of four group presidents at HCA Inc., the third largest private employer in Richmond and the largest hospital management company in the country. The Martinsville native oversees a growing field, outpatient services, and has wielded influence in a variety of local groups: Richmond Renaissance, Meals on Wheels, the First Freedom Center and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation.
9. Marge M. Connelly
If you are one of the few Richmonders who work somewhere other than Capital One, you may not know Connelly. Locally, she's the highest ranking executive at the financial juggernaut, where she oversees U.S. credit card operations. Connelly, who is an out lesbian, has woven the issue of gay acceptance into her corporate role. She is past president of the Central Virginia Food Bank and a board member for the Greater Richmond Partnership and HCA's CJW Medical Center. The Greater Richmond YWCA named her one of the "Outstanding Women of the Year" in 2003, and the governor recently named her to the board of visitors of Longwood University.
10. Thomas E. Capps
Dominion Resources Inc. CEO Thomas E. Capps has gained momentum of late. He received a pay raise of 160 percent in 2003 — from $2.79 million to $7.22 million in total compensation — as he led the company through tough times in the energy business. Unlike Enron, the company didn't overbuild and rely too heavily on energy trading. As one analyst says of Capps, "He's done a terrific job of guiding Dominion through very turbulent times." Capps, 68, is expected to become even more of a player in philanthropy when he retires. Insiders say he'll step aside within the next two years.
11. Michael Szymanczyk
He's a Yankee transport, but Michael Szymanczyk immediately became a player by association. As chief executive of Philip Morris USA, the domestic division of the world's biggest tobacco company, he's head of a company with yearly net revenues of $17 billion, nearly twice that of the next biggest company in Richmond. He is only a year removed from New York, however, and money watchers in Richmond are still waiting to see how the 55-year-old Szymanczyk will flex his muscle. In 2003, he earned $2.4 million in salary and bonuses.
12. The Robins Family
The late E. Claiborne Robins, who shaped the growth of pharmaceutical giant A.H. Robins — now Wyeth — was practically a founding father of the University of Richmond. His $50 million gift in 1969 was a turning point for the university. His wife, Lora Robins, recently received an award for lifetime achievement in philanthropy from the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She has given substantially to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Virginia Historical Society, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and Maymont. Her daughters help run the Robins Foundation. And her son, E. Claiborne Robins Jr., through his firm, E. C. Robins International, runs businesses as diverse as pharmaceuticals, air charters and wine importing.
13. Attorney General
Jerry Kilgore
Kilgore launched his political career in 1980 as a volunteer with Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign. The former assistant U.S. attorney continues to embrace Reagan's optimistic style. Elected attorney general in 2002, he's pushed initiatives to thwart domestic abuse and support the war on terrorism, increase the use of DNA evidence and combat technology-related crime. Most recently, in the 2004 General Assembly, he marshaled legislation to address Virginia's growing gang problem. As secretary of public safety for Gov. George Allen, Kilgore oversaw 11 state agencies, 17,000 employees and a billion-dollar budget; he also implemented the abolition of parole in Virginia. It is expected he'll be the Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2005. Kilgore is married to Marty Kilgore, a former public school teacher and former deputy secretary of the commonwealth under Gov. Jim Gilmore. She now serves as executive director of the Tobacco Settlement Foundation. The Kilgores have two children, ages 10 and 7.
14. The Gottwald family
With a net worth of roughly $1.2 billion, according to a Virginia Business magazine estimate, Richmond's Gottwalds are more than considerably wealthy. Bruce C. Gottwald presides over the Ethyl Corp. dynasty. In May, the nonprofit for youth Junior Achievement named him to its Greater Richmond Business Hall of Fame. His elder brother, Floyd D. Gottwald Jr., oversees Albemarle Corp., a chemical production company named for the family's first business in the paper industry. John D. Gottwald, son of Floyd, runs Tredegar Industries. The family has made significant contributions to the Virginia Historical Society, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Science Museum of Virginia, the University of Richmond and Virginia Military Institute. Teddy Gottwald, son of Bruce, is a trustee of the Science Museum and serves on the advisory board of Interfaith Housing Corp. Bruce Gottwald's wife, Nancy H., and William M., son of Floyd, are members of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. Last year Gov. Mark Warner appointed Nancy Gottwald to the VMFA's board of trustees.
15. The Weinstein Family
In the last year, the Weinsteins and their family members — Marcus and Carole, their daughter, Allison, her husband, Ivan Jecklin, and Marcus's brother, Philip — have seen the fruits of their philanthropy. Together, they donated $8.5 million to the University of Richmond's new social sciences building, dedicated in October. They gave $3 million toward the $16 million renovation of the Marcus and Carole Weinstein Jewish Community Center, dedicated in June. Allison is one of five trustees at UR leading a new $200 million capital campaign. The family's Weinstein Management Company, which Marcus founded in 1962, owns more than 9,000 apartments in Richmond.
16. Robert L. Burrus Jr.
The chairman and partner of McGuireWoods oversees a legal powerhouse that includes 750 lawyers — 198 of them in Richmond — as well as a consulting branch and a mergers-and-acquisitions advisory firm. But he is welcomed in other board rooms, too. Burrus serves as a director on the boards of CSX Corp., Smithfield Foods and S & K Famous Brands Inc. And he is a trustee at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the University of Richmond, where colleagues recently started a fellowship program in his name to award scholarships to students at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies.
17. Robert S. Ukrop
When he's not aglow from his newest role as granddad, Bobby Ukrop is busy making his rounds of the 29 stores that have made Ukrop's a household name in central Virginia. For 27 years he's held regular meetings of the company's new employees to hear feedback and pep them up. He's an avid soccer enthusiast and coach, and parlays his love of sports into his post as trustee of the University of Richmond and its athletic council. The president and chief executive of Ukrop's Super Markets — and younger brother to Jim — serves on the boards of the Science Museum of Virginia and the Greater Richmond Partnership.
18. Dr. Frank S. Royal
He may be known as a family physician, but Royal is one of the corporate world's most wanted. He's a board director for six publicly traded companies: Chesapeake Corp., CSX Corp., Dominion Resources Inc., HCA Inc., SunTrust Banks Inc. and most recently, Smithfield Foods. Royal also leads the board of trustees at his alma mater, Virginia Union University, which is tackling financial challenges and a leadership transition. One of his big goals is to ensure its future, he says, "that it be there for my grandchildren — and I have eight of those, ranging from 2 to 14."
19. William E. Cooper
He wants to turn the University of Richmond into an Ivy League-level school. Since Bill Cooper became president in 1998, he's done more than just shake up the small, but high-profile conservative university with Baptist roots. He nixed the health and sports science departments, eliminated the education graduate programs and began recruiting higher-profile faculty. He added sexual orientation to the university's nondiscrimination policy, which led the Virginia Baptist Mission Board to withdraw its funding and membership on the board of trustees. It seems to have had little effect, however, as UR now boasts an endowment of $1.1 billion, nearly $400 million more than before Cooper took the helm. This year, the university launched its largest capital campaign, with the goal of raising $200 million by 2008.
20. The Markel Family and Alan I. Kirshner
The family behind the $2.8 billion Markel Corp. is known for giving to the arts and supporting all things Richmond, including giving generously to the now-defunct Richmond Renegades. But the family is probably best-known for smart, no-frills business. The company's top three executives — Alan Kirshner and cousins Tony Markel and Steve Markel — each made a relatively modest $630,000 last year for a company that has remained extremely profitable over the years by insuring businesses that other under-writers tend to shy away from, such as taxicabs and health clubs.
21. Ralph L. "Bill" Axselle Jr.
Everybody calls him Bill because as a child his unbounded energy reminded his family of the legendary baseball-player-turned-evangelist Billy Sunday. Today, that zeal defines him in a way that is disarmingly unpretentious yet effective. He's a partner in the law firm Williams Mullen, and an active member of Second Baptist Church and was a 16-year member of the Virginia House of Delegates. What's on his mind most these days is Jamestown's quadricentennial and how to make the most of it. He's chairman of Richmond Region 2007 and is a member of its executive committee and board of directors. He's served on community boards and commissions under five governors. In 2003 he was re-appointed by Warner to the board of visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University. He's also on the boards of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the University of North Carolina. Born and raised in Glen Allen, Axselle is married to Anne Maiden Axselle, and they have three adult children.
22. State Sen. Walter A. Stosch
A nut for numbers and efficiency, State Sen. Walter Stosch is majority leader of the state Senate. After earning an accounting degree and an M.B.A. from the University of Richmond, he founded an accounting firm in 1961. Twelve years later, the firm merged with Deloitte & Touche, where he became a partner. Now Stosch runs a consulting firm that figures the value of businesses and works with corporate audit committees — in-demand services in today's corporate climate. This year, Stosch used an overhead projector to school some politicians about the state budget. Fortunately for Gov. Warner, Stosch broke away from his fellow Republicans, leading a gang of five to help bust the budget standoff. "We had several commitments that had to be met," he explains. Stosch works with the Community Foundation, and is a board director for Universal Corp.
23. Stanley F. Pauley
The Carpenter Co., which makes foam and fiber cushion products, is one of the largest private companies in Richmond. And Pauley, its chairman and chief executive, is at the helm of about 7,500 employees — about 500 in Richmond. A fellow power broker says Pauley is a businessman to be reckoned with, a man who can make things happen behind the scenes. The electrical engineer's educational reach is expansive, extending from the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus, to Hampden-Sydney College, where he is a past member of the board, to VCU, where he is a trustee for the School of Engineering Foundation. He and his wife, Dorothy, have given generously to local causes, most visibly the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Their $5 million gift last year helped launch the museum's now $150 million capital campaign.
24. Lt. Gov. Timothy Kaine
"Being lieutenant governor is a lot like being vice president," University of Virginia political pundit Larry Sabato told Style in 2003 for a cover story on Kaine. "Your job is to inquire after the health of the governor and position yourself to run for his job. His future depends greatly on how Warner does, and conditions couldn't be worse for Warner." Look what's developed since: a budget. Kaine pushed for a compromise, proving himself to be dexterous and savvy. The former Richmond mayor stretches statewide for educational reforms, open government and public safety. He serves on the Secure Virginia Panel (the state's anti-terrorism task force), Virginia's Military Advisory Council and is chairman of Virginia's Disability Commission. He is married to Anne Holton, a judge in Richmond's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, with whom he has three children. Next: He is the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor in 2005.
25. Former Gov. Gerald L. Baliles
As governor of Virginia from 1986 to 1990, Gerald Baliles established the state's first cabinet-level post for economic development and its first multiyear transportation improvement plan. He also helped create the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond. He looked to the future of central Virginia with equal degrees of optimism and concern. He does the same today, just out of the public eye. Yet he says his days have grown longer since becoming lead partner of the international practice group at the law firm Hunton & Williams. Baliles has become an expert on the airline industry, and he advises businesses and organizations on such wide-ranging issues as public policy, international relations and the environment. He plans to direct more of his attention to new road construction in the Richmond area before, he warns, there's no more public money to fund it. He's also a writer, editor and angler, going "wherever the fish are," he says. Baliles and his wife, Robin, live in Stratford Hills.
26. Del. Franklin P. Hall
An elder at First Presbyterian Church and a Democrat, Hall is minority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates. He's represented both Richmond and Chesterfield County constituents in the state's 69th District since 1976. For his seniority, he's received plum committee assignments: Appropriations; Rules; and Cities, Counties and Towns. In the 2004 session, he successfully sponsored a bill specifying how localities must disclose cash payments and expenditures. Hall serves as chairman of Commonwealth Bank and the Central Richmond Association. He is also on the boards of the Virginia Mental Health Association, Offender Aid and Restoration, and the Richmond Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.
27. Gordon F. Rainey Jr.
The chairman of Richmond's largest law firm, Hunton & Williams, Gordon Rainey oversees a powerhouse of intellectual capital. Rainey's specialty, corporate finance, reflects the personality of the firm, which has seen much of its corporate business — including big-bank headquarters — move elsewhere during the past decade and a half. The firm fields one of Philip Morris USA's legal teams — a portfolio builder — and has gained numerous Fortune 500 clients across the globe. It's just that Richmond isn't as relevant anymore. Yet Rainey, recently named rector of the University of Virginia's board of visitors, is on numerous corporate boards of directors locally and is a player in Richmond philanthropy.
28. J. Harwood Cochrane
The founder of Overnite Transportation is a local legend. Cochrane and his wife, Louise, have given $20 million to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to purchase American art. He gave $8 million to the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board before writing them out of his will, citing displeasure with fundamentalists. The 91-year-old trucking pioneer founded Overnite with a single truck in 1935 — he delivered everything from cigarettes to Ukrop's groceries. After selling Overnite to Union Pacific in 1986 for $1.2 billion, a merger that fared badly, Cochrane started Highway Express Inc. in 1991 at the age of 79. He founded that company, some say, largely to show Overnite how things should be done. He sold that company in the fall.
29. State Sen. John C. Watkins
State Sen. John C. Watkins is Chesterfield County's highest ranking politician, having served in the Virginia General Assembly for 22 years, first as a member of the House of Delegates from 1982 to 1998. A ranking Republican, Watkins has been a powerful figure in local politics and a key supporter of public transit. And his family sits on a key piece of developable land along Route 288 (it's slated for a shopping mall, among other things). Perhaps most important, Watkins has continued to call for more regional cooperation in a county where the politics are tinged with racism and many county residents still resent Richmond for annexing its easternmost corridor in 1970.
30. G. Gilmer Minor III
A former cadet at Virginia Military Institute, Gil Minor has mastered the art of survival as chief executive of Owens & Minor, a Richmond medical supply company. He resisted Wall Street's call to slash and burn after a near-fatal blow in May of 1998 — Columbia/HCA abruptly pulled $370 million worth of business — and managed to overcome a difficult merger with Stuart Medical in 1994. Since the late 1990s, the company has seen its stock rebound and sales triple, on the way to becoming one of the most efficient medical supply manufacturers in the country. Minor, ever the cadet, is known for his no-nonsense approach to business. He also serves on the boards of the Virginia Biotechnology Park and Richmond Renaissance.
31. Ivor Massey Jr. and Family
Ivor Massey made his millions in the stock market, then bequeathed the fortune to his son. Ivor Massey Jr. has alternately amassed huge sums and watched bits of them slip away. And whether through venture investments or goodwill giving, the family's money has made a mark on Richmond. Their personal involvement in the programs and institutions they support is paramount. Most notably, there's the internationally recognized Massey Cancer Center at VCU Health System. Also, Massey Jr. is president of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and is an appointee to the board of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
32. State Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert
"I remember telling my father in high school that I was going to be in the General Assembly one day," Lambert recalls, with his customary soft chuckle. He's worked in both chambers, first as a delegate and now as a senator. The optometrist and Democrat ranks fifth in seniority in the Senate, second when it comes to his place on the coveted and powerful finance committee. He also serves on the boards for student-loan agency Sallie Mae, Dominion Resources, Consolidated Bank and is secretary of the board of trustees for Virginia Union University. Lambert is best known for using his influence to make Richmond more inclusive. His wife, Carolyn, is from Niagra Falls. Together they've raised four community-minded children engaged in everything from city government to the new, hip Hyperlink Café. Lambert's favorite title, he says, is granddad — he has two young grandsons.
33. Daniel J. Ludeman
Daniel Ludeman was managing director of Richmond's most powerful brokerage of yesteryear, Wheat First Butcher Singer. His promotion to president and CEO of Wachovia Securities in 1999 has proven pivotal for Richmond. Carolina's Richmond hustle, in which Richmond lost Wheat First to Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union (now Wachovia), has actually helped the city. With Ludeman at the helm, Wachovia's purchase of Prudential Securities in July 2003 brought more than a thousand new jobs to Richmond, which is now on its way to becoming home to the country's third largest brokerage. Meanwhile, Richmond is re-establishing itself as a key financial hub in the South.
34. Beverley W. "Booty" Armstrong
Best known as co-owner of The Jefferson Hotel, Booty Armstrong, vice chairman of CCA Industries, is one of the area's most influential investors and civic leaders. Through his association with William H. Goodwin Jr. — he's Goodwin's most trusted partner — Armstrong is part owner of the West Creek business park in Goochland County, a former co-owner of AMF Bowling, and no-nonsense manager of numerous assets at CCA, including Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The straight-talking Armstrong is a more vocal political player than Goodwin and a key proponent behind the planned Virginia Performing Arts Center downtown. He's also an important voice at the influential Richmond Renaissance.
35. Robert F. Norfleet Jr.
Of the old Richmond banking guard, Robert Norfleet, a former corporate executive at Crestar Bank before the bank was purchased by SunTrust in the mid-1990s, has been an active voice and increasingly powerful player in local politics and civic boosterism. A regular op-ed page contributor to the Times-Dispatch, Norfleet has been at the forefront of the at-large mayor debate and the poster executive for Richmond's continuing identity crisis in the wake of North Carolina's big-bank takeover. He serves on numerous local boards and as chairman of the all-powerful Community Foundation, Richmond's nonprofit of nonprofits with more than $440 million in assets.
36. Thomas Bliley Jr.
Before Bliley, a former Republican U.S. representative, joined forces with a former Democratic governor to champion a referendum allowing for an at-large mayor, there were funerals. Bliley's father, Joseph W., grew Bliley Funeral Homes into a Richmond institution. Then Bliley, with his signature bow ties, was elected to Richmond City Council in 1968. Two years later, he became mayor. Next, he moved on to Washington, D.C. In his 10 House terms, he earned a reputation as one of its most powerful members, particularly on free-market enterprise issues and tobacco. Today, the retired Bliley may not play the game every day, as one friend puts it, but his recent partnership with Wilder shows he can still muster attention.
37. Thomas F. Farrell II
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
The senior Ukrop brother is chairman of Ukrop's Super Markets Inc. and First Market Bank. He serves on the business boards of Legg Mason and Owens & Minor. The avid golfer and William & Mary alum is most recognized for his spirited involvement in community matters and, he says self-deprecatingly, his absent-mindedness. He chairs the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation and the Metropolitan Richmond Convention and Visitors Bureau. He's vice chairman of the Virginia High-Speed Rail Development Committee and works prodigiously with Richmond Renaissance. He also serves on the boards of the Coalition for a Greater Richmond and the Council for America's First Freedom. He's often out of town, out of the country, even, scouting people and programs — such as teachers or Charleston's Spoleto Festival — he'd like to woo to Richmond. He is married to Barbara Berkeley Ukrop, who serves on the College of William & Mary board of visitors and on the board of The Community Foundation. The couple has two sons, Scott and Ted, and four grandchildren.
4. J. Stewart Bryan III
Media General Inc. owns the Richmond Times-Dispatch, 24 other dailies, more than 100 other publications, 26 television stations and more than 50 online enterprises. But Bryan, chairman and chief executive, says the company's not a collection of news outlets. "We're an information company," he stresses. And he'll deliver it any way his customers want. The ex-Marine serves on the board of the Virginia Historical Society and is charged with raising $53 million for the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He says he has no plans to retire. And if an FCC rule is lifted banning companies from owning newspapers and broadcast outlets in the same market, Bryan most likely will snap up a local TV station to add to his Richmond media empire.
5. John W. Snow
As head of the Bush economic team and fifth in line to succeed the president, Treasury Secretary John Snow is at the center of political power in Washington. Succeeding the controversial Paul O'Neill, Snow strengthened the Bush team and guided the 2003 tax cuts through Congress. In his 20 years with CSX Corp. — formerly headquartered in Richmond — Snow elevated the company's profile and finances. He's served in varied capacities with the U.S. Department of Transportation, and while working in the private sector, played a major role in supporting passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement. He keeps a house in Richmond with wife, Carolyn, and can be seen frequenting West End restaurants and local golf courses — on occasion with a Secret Service contingent. A former economics professor with a Ph.D. in economics and a law degree, Snow arrived in Richmond in 1980 when railroad giant CSX was formed through a merger. A decade later he became chairman of the board. He quickly sold off the company's non-rail assets and focused the business on being the largest railroad east of the Mississippi.
6. Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder
The grandson of slaves, Wilder graduated from Virginia Union University with a degree in chemistry in 1951. He is a Korean War veteran and a recipient of the Bronze Star for heroism in combat. After working as a chemist in the state medical examiner's office, Wilder took advantage of benefits provided by the G.I. Bill of Rights and studied law at Howard University. In 1959 he earned his degree, passed the Virginia bar exam and set up the law firm Wilder, Gregory and Associates. He won a special election for the Virginia Senate in 1969, and he spent 10 years in the General Assembly before being elected lieutenant governor in 1985. Four years later, he became Virginia's 66th governor — the first elected African-American governor in U.S. history. Wilder is remembered by most as a strong financial manager during a period of economic tumult. He supported community-minded initiatives, particularly upgrades at many of Virginia's colleges, mental health facilities and state parks. His biggest power play of late was leading the campaign for a directly elected mayor in Richmond — even dropping by the U.S. Department of Justice to help make his case. He's now decided to run for the post himself.
7. Eugene P. Trani
President of Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System, Trani oversees one of the nation's top research universities and the region's ninth-largest employer, an enterprise worth more than $1.4 billion in annual revenues. Now in his 15th year, he has transformed VCU from an urban college with sparse funds and resources into a dynamic network of 12 institutions of higher learning. He has created numerous programs — such as the Carver-VCU Partnership — that link VCU students and faculty with the community, and he has established ties with business and governmental leaders throughout the city and state. He helped develop the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park, and VCU is helping revitalize Broad Street. Trani also serves as chairman of Richmond Renaissance, and has received numerous awards for his commitment to public service, technology and economic development.
8. Marilyn B. Tavenner
She started as a nursing supervisor in 1981 at what is now CJW Medical Center. Then Tavenner — sharp, insightful and a big-picture thinker — rose like a quickening pulse. In January, she became one of four group presidents at HCA Inc., the third largest private employer in Richmond and the largest hospital management company in the country. The Martinsville native oversees a growing field, outpatient services, and has wielded influence in a variety of local groups: Richmond Renaissance, Meals on Wheels, the First Freedom Center and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation.
9. Marge M. Connelly
If you are one of the few Richmonders who work somewhere other than Capital One, you may not know Connelly. Locally, she's the highest ranking executive at the financial juggernaut, where she oversees U.S. credit card operations. Connelly, who is an out lesbian, has woven the issue of gay acceptance into her corporate role. She is past president of the Central Virginia Food Bank and a board member for the Greater Richmond Partnership and HCA's CJW Medical Center. The Greater Richmond YWCA named her one of the "Outstanding Women of the Year" in 2003, and the governor recently named her to the board of visitors of Longwood University.
10. Thomas E. Capps
Dominion Resources Inc. CEO Thomas E. Capps has gained momentum of late. He received a pay raise of 160 percent in 2003 — from $2.79 million to $7.22 million in total compensation — as he led the company through tough times in the energy business. Unlike Enron, the company didn't overbuild and rely too heavily on energy trading. As one analyst says of Capps, "He's done a terrific job of guiding Dominion through very turbulent times." Capps, 68, is expected to become even more of a player in philanthropy when he retires. Insiders say he'll step aside within the next two years.
11. Michael Szymanczyk
He's a Yankee transport, but Michael Szymanczyk immediately became a player by association. As chief executive of Philip Morris USA, the domestic division of the world's biggest tobacco company, he's head of a company with yearly net revenues of $17 billion, nearly twice that of the next biggest company in Richmond. He is only a year removed from New York, however, and money watchers in Richmond are still waiting to see how the 55-year-old Szymanczyk will flex his muscle. In 2003, he earned $2.4 million in salary and bonuses.
12. The Robins Family
The late E. Claiborne Robins, who shaped the growth of pharmaceutical giant A.H. Robins — now Wyeth — was practically a founding father of the University of Richmond. His $50 million gift in 1969 was a turning point for the university. His wife, Lora Robins, recently received an award for lifetime achievement in philanthropy from the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She has given substantially to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Virginia Historical Society, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and Maymont. Her daughters help run the Robins Foundation. And her son, E. Claiborne Robins Jr., through his firm, E. C. Robins International, runs businesses as diverse as pharmaceuticals, air charters and wine importing.
13. Attorney General
Jerry Kilgore
Kilgore launched his political career in 1980 as a volunteer with Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign. The former assistant U.S. attorney continues to embrace Reagan's optimistic style. Elected attorney general in 2002, he's pushed initiatives to thwart domestic abuse and support the war on terrorism, increase the use of DNA evidence and combat technology-related crime. Most recently, in the 2004 General Assembly, he marshaled legislation to address Virginia's growing gang problem. As secretary of public safety for Gov. George Allen, Kilgore oversaw 11 state agencies, 17,000 employees and a billion-dollar budget; he also implemented the abolition of parole in Virginia. It is expected he'll be the Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2005. Kilgore is married to Marty Kilgore, a former public school teacher and former deputy secretary of the commonwealth under Gov. Jim Gilmore. She now serves as executive director of the Tobacco Settlement Foundation. The Kilgores have two children, ages 10 and 7.
14. The Gottwald family
With a net worth of roughly $1.2 billion, according to a Virginia Business magazine estimate, Richmond's Gottwalds are more than considerably wealthy. Bruce C. Gottwald presides over the Ethyl Corp. dynasty. In May, the nonprofit for youth Junior Achievement named him to its Greater Richmond Business Hall of Fame. His elder brother, Floyd D. Gottwald Jr., oversees Albemarle Corp., a chemical production company named for the family's first business in the paper industry. John D. Gottwald, son of Floyd, runs Tredegar Industries. The family has made significant contributions to the Virginia Historical Society, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Science Museum of Virginia, the University of Richmond and Virginia Military Institute. Teddy Gottwald, son of Bruce, is a trustee of the Science Museum and serves on the advisory board of Interfaith Housing Corp. Bruce Gottwald's wife, Nancy H., and William M., son of Floyd, are members of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. Last year Gov. Mark Warner appointed Nancy Gottwald to the VMFA's board of trustees.
15. The Weinstein Family
In the last year, the Weinsteins and their family members — Marcus and Carole, their daughter, Allison, her husband, Ivan Jecklin, and Marcus's brother, Philip — have seen the fruits of their philanthropy. Together, they donated $8.5 million to the University of Richmond's new social sciences building, dedicated in October. They gave $3 million toward the $16 million renovation of the Marcus and Carole Weinstein Jewish Community Center, dedicated in June. Allison is one of five trustees at UR leading a new $200 million capital campaign. The family's Weinstein Management Company, which Marcus founded in 1962, owns more than 9,000 apartments in Richmond.
16. Robert L. Burrus Jr.
The chairman and partner of McGuireWoods oversees a legal powerhouse that includes 750 lawyers — 198 of them in Richmond — as well as a consulting branch and a mergers-and-acquisitions advisory firm. But he is welcomed in other board rooms, too. Burrus serves as a director on the boards of CSX Corp., Smithfield Foods and S & K Famous Brands Inc. And he is a trustee at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the University of Richmond, where colleagues recently started a fellowship program in his name to award scholarships to students at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies.
17. Robert S. Ukrop
When he's not aglow from his newest role as granddad, Bobby Ukrop is busy making his rounds of the 29 stores that have made Ukrop's a household name in central Virginia. For 27 years he's held regular meetings of the company's new employees to hear feedback and pep them up. He's an avid soccer enthusiast and coach, and parlays his love of sports into his post as trustee of the University of Richmond and its athletic council. The president and chief executive of Ukrop's Super Markets — and younger brother to Jim — serves on the boards of the Science Museum of Virginia and the Greater Richmond Partnership.
18. Dr. Frank S. Royal
He may be known as a family physician, but Royal is one of the corporate world's most wanted. He's a board director for six publicly traded companies: Chesapeake Corp., CSX Corp., Dominion Resources Inc., HCA Inc., SunTrust Banks Inc. and most recently, Smithfield Foods. Royal also leads the board of trustees at his alma mater, Virginia Union University, which is tackling financial challenges and a leadership transition. One of his big goals is to ensure its future, he says, "that it be there for my grandchildren — and I have eight of those, ranging from 2 to 14."
19. William E. Cooper
He wants to turn the University of Richmond into an Ivy League-level school. Since Bill Cooper became president in 1998, he's done more than just shake up the small, but high-profile conservative university with Baptist roots. He nixed the health and sports science departments, eliminated the education graduate programs and began recruiting higher-profile faculty. He added sexual orientation to the university's nondiscrimination policy, which led the Virginia Baptist Mission Board to withdraw its funding and membership on the board of trustees. It seems to have had little effect, however, as UR now boasts an endowment of $1.1 billion, nearly $400 million more than before Cooper took the helm. This year, the university launched its largest capital campaign, with the goal of raising $200 million by 2008.
20. The Markel Family and Alan I. Kirshner
The family behind the $2.8 billion Markel Corp. is known for giving to the arts and supporting all things Richmond, including giving generously to the now-defunct Richmond Renegades. But the family is probably best-known for smart, no-frills business. The company's top three executives — Alan Kirshner and cousins Tony Markel and Steve Markel — each made a relatively modest $630,000 last year for a company that has remained extremely profitable over the years by insuring businesses that other under-writers tend to shy away from, such as taxicabs and health clubs.
21. Ralph L. "Bill" Axselle Jr.
Everybody calls him Bill because as a child his unbounded energy reminded his family of the legendary baseball-player-turned-evangelist Billy Sunday. Today, that zeal defines him in a way that is disarmingly unpretentious yet effective. He's a partner in the law firm Williams Mullen, and an active member of Second Baptist Church and was a 16-year member of the Virginia House of Delegates. What's on his mind most these days is Jamestown's quadricentennial and how to make the most of it. He's chairman of Richmond Region 2007 and is a member of its executive committee and board of directors. He's served on community boards and commissions under five governors. In 2003 he was re-appointed by Warner to the board of visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University. He's also on the boards of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the University of North Carolina. Born and raised in Glen Allen, Axselle is married to Anne Maiden Axselle, and they have three adult children.
22. State Sen. Walter A. Stosch
A nut for numbers and efficiency, State Sen. Walter Stosch is majority leader of the state Senate. After earning an accounting degree and an M.B.A. from the University of Richmond, he founded an accounting firm in 1961. Twelve years later, the firm merged with Deloitte & Touche, where he became a partner. Now Stosch runs a consulting firm that figures the value of businesses and works with corporate audit committees — in-demand services in today's corporate climate. This year, Stosch used an overhead projector to school some politicians about the state budget. Fortunately for Gov. Warner, Stosch broke away from his fellow Republicans, leading a gang of five to help bust the budget standoff. "We had several commitments that had to be met," he explains. Stosch works with the Community Foundation, and is a board director for Universal Corp.
23. Stanley F. Pauley
The Carpenter Co., which makes foam and fiber cushion products, is one of the largest private companies in Richmond. And Pauley, its chairman and chief executive, is at the helm of about 7,500 employees — about 500 in Richmond. A fellow power broker says Pauley is a businessman to be reckoned with, a man who can make things happen behind the scenes. The electrical engineer's educational reach is expansive, extending from the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus, to Hampden-Sydney College, where he is a past member of the board, to VCU, where he is a trustee for the School of Engineering Foundation. He and his wife, Dorothy, have given generously to local causes, most visibly the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Their $5 million gift last year helped launch the museum's now $150 million capital campaign.
24. Lt. Gov. Timothy Kaine
"Being lieutenant governor is a lot like being vice president," University of Virginia political pundit Larry Sabato told Style in 2003 for a cover story on Kaine. "Your job is to inquire after the health of the governor and position yourself to run for his job. His future depends greatly on how Warner does, and conditions couldn't be worse for Warner." Look what's developed since: a budget. Kaine pushed for a compromise, proving himself to be dexterous and savvy. The former Richmond mayor stretches statewide for educational reforms, open government and public safety. He serves on the Secure Virginia Panel (the state's anti-terrorism task force), Virginia's Military Advisory Council and is chairman of Virginia's Disability Commission. He is married to Anne Holton, a judge in Richmond's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, with whom he has three children. Next: He is the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor in 2005.
25. Former Gov. Gerald L. Baliles
As governor of Virginia from 1986 to 1990, Gerald Baliles established the state's first cabinet-level post for economic development and its first multiyear transportation improvement plan. He also helped create the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond. He looked to the future of central Virginia with equal degrees of optimism and concern. He does the same today, just out of the public eye. Yet he says his days have grown longer since becoming lead partner of the international practice group at the law firm Hunton & Williams. Baliles has become an expert on the airline industry, and he advises businesses and organizations on such wide-ranging issues as public policy, international relations and the environment. He plans to direct more of his attention to new road construction in the Richmond area before, he warns, there's no more public money to fund it. He's also a writer, editor and angler, going "wherever the fish are," he says. Baliles and his wife, Robin, live in Stratford Hills.
26. Del. Franklin P. Hall
An elder at First Presbyterian Church and a Democrat, Hall is minority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates. He's represented both Richmond and Chesterfield County constituents in the state's 69th District since 1976. For his seniority, he's received plum committee assignments: Appropriations; Rules; and Cities, Counties and Towns. In the 2004 session, he successfully sponsored a bill specifying how localities must disclose cash payments and expenditures. Hall serves as chairman of Commonwealth Bank and the Central Richmond Association. He is also on the boards of the Virginia Mental Health Association, Offender Aid and Restoration, and the Richmond Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.
27. Gordon F. Rainey Jr.
The chairman of Richmond's largest law firm, Hunton & Williams, Gordon Rainey oversees a powerhouse of intellectual capital. Rainey's specialty, corporate finance, reflects the personality of the firm, which has seen much of its corporate business — including big-bank headquarters — move elsewhere during the past decade and a half. The firm fields one of Philip Morris USA's legal teams — a portfolio builder — and has gained numerous Fortune 500 clients across the globe. It's just that Richmond isn't as relevant anymore. Yet Rainey, recently named rector of the University of Virginia's board of visitors, is on numerous corporate boards of directors locally and is a player in Richmond philanthropy.
28. J. Harwood Cochrane
The founder of Overnite Transportation is a local legend. Cochrane and his wife, Louise, have given $20 million to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to purchase American art. He gave $8 million to the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board before writing them out of his will, citing displeasure with fundamentalists. The 91-year-old trucking pioneer founded Overnite with a single truck in 1935 — he delivered everything from cigarettes to Ukrop's groceries. After selling Overnite to Union Pacific in 1986 for $1.2 billion, a merger that fared badly, Cochrane started Highway Express Inc. in 1991 at the age of 79. He founded that company, some say, largely to show Overnite how things should be done. He sold that company in the fall.
29. State Sen. John C. Watkins
State Sen. John C. Watkins is Chesterfield County's highest ranking politician, having served in the Virginia General Assembly for 22 years, first as a member of the House of Delegates from 1982 to 1998. A ranking Republican, Watkins has been a powerful figure in local politics and a key supporter of public transit. And his family sits on a key piece of developable land along Route 288 (it's slated for a shopping mall, among other things). Perhaps most important, Watkins has continued to call for more regional cooperation in a county where the politics are tinged with racism and many county residents still resent Richmond for annexing its easternmost corridor in 1970.
30. G. Gilmer Minor III
A former cadet at Virginia Military Institute, Gil Minor has mastered the art of survival as chief executive of Owens & Minor, a Richmond medical supply company. He resisted Wall Street's call to slash and burn after a near-fatal blow in May of 1998 — Columbia/HCA abruptly pulled $370 million worth of business — and managed to overcome a difficult merger with Stuart Medical in 1994. Since the late 1990s, the company has seen its stock rebound and sales triple, on the way to becoming one of the most efficient medical supply manufacturers in the country. Minor, ever the cadet, is known for his no-nonsense approach to business. He also serves on the boards of the Virginia Biotechnology Park and Richmond Renaissance.
31. Ivor Massey Jr. and Family
Ivor Massey made his millions in the stock market, then bequeathed the fortune to his son. Ivor Massey Jr. has alternately amassed huge sums and watched bits of them slip away. And whether through venture investments or goodwill giving, the family's money has made a mark on Richmond. Their personal involvement in the programs and institutions they support is paramount. Most notably, there's the internationally recognized Massey Cancer Center at VCU Health System. Also, Massey Jr. is president of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and is an appointee to the board of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
32. State Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert
"I remember telling my father in high school that I was going to be in the General Assembly one day," Lambert recalls, with his customary soft chuckle. He's worked in both chambers, first as a delegate and now as a senator. The optometrist and Democrat ranks fifth in seniority in the Senate, second when it comes to his place on the coveted and powerful finance committee. He also serves on the boards for student-loan agency Sallie Mae, Dominion Resources, Consolidated Bank and is secretary of the board of trustees for Virginia Union University. Lambert is best known for using his influence to make Richmond more inclusive. His wife, Carolyn, is from Niagra Falls. Together they've raised four community-minded children engaged in everything from city government to the new, hip Hyperlink Café. Lambert's favorite title, he says, is granddad — he has two young grandsons.
33. Daniel J. Ludeman
Daniel Ludeman was managing director of Richmond's most powerful brokerage of yesteryear, Wheat First Butcher Singer. His promotion to president and CEO of Wachovia Securities in 1999 has proven pivotal for Richmond. Carolina's Richmond hustle, in which Richmond lost Wheat First to Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union (now Wachovia), has actually helped the city. With Ludeman at the helm, Wachovia's purchase of Prudential Securities in July 2003 brought more than a thousand new jobs to Richmond, which is now on its way to becoming home to the country's third largest brokerage. Meanwhile, Richmond is re-establishing itself as a key financial hub in the South.
34. Beverley W. "Booty" Armstrong
Best known as co-owner of The Jefferson Hotel, Booty Armstrong, vice chairman of CCA Industries, is one of the area's most influential investors and civic leaders. Through his association with William H. Goodwin Jr. — he's Goodwin's most trusted partner — Armstrong is part owner of the West Creek business park in Goochland County, a former co-owner of AMF Bowling, and no-nonsense manager of numerous assets at CCA, including Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The straight-talking Armstrong is a more vocal political player than Goodwin and a key proponent behind the planned Virginia Performing Arts Center downtown. He's also an important voice at the influential Richmond Renaissance.
35. Robert F. Norfleet Jr.
Of the old Richmond banking guard, Robert Norfleet, a former corporate executive at Crestar Bank before the bank was purchased by SunTrust in the mid-1990s, has been an active voice and increasingly powerful player in local politics and civic boosterism. A regular op-ed page contributor to the Times-Dispatch, Norfleet has been at the forefront of the at-large mayor debate and the poster executive for Richmond's continuing identity crisis in the wake of North Carolina's big-bank takeover. He serves on numerous local boards and as chairman of the all-powerful Community Foundation, Richmond's nonprofit of nonprofits with more than $440 million in assets.
36. Thomas Bliley Jr.
Before Bliley, a former Republican U.S. representative, joined forces with a former Democratic governor to champion a referendum allowing for an at-large mayor, there were funerals. Bliley's father, Joseph W., grew Bliley Funeral Homes into a Richmond institution. Then Bliley, with his signature bow ties, was elected to Richmond City Council in 1968. Two years later, he became mayor. Next, he moved on to Washington, D.C. In his 10 House terms, he earned a reputation as one of its most powerful members, particularly on free-market enterprise issues and tobacco. Today, the retired Bliley may not play the game every day, as one friend puts it, but his recent partnership with Wilder shows he can still muster attention.
37. Thomas F. Farrell II
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
As head of the Bush economic team and fifth in line to succeed the president, Treasury Secretary John Snow is at the center of political power in Washington. Succeeding the controversial Paul O'Neill, Snow strengthened the Bush team and guided the 2003 tax cuts through Congress. In his 20 years with CSX Corp. — formerly headquartered in Richmond — Snow elevated the company's profile and finances. He's served in varied capacities with the U.S. Department of Transportation, and while working in the private sector, played a major role in supporting passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement. He keeps a house in Richmond with wife, Carolyn, and can be seen frequenting West End restaurants and local golf courses — on occasion with a Secret Service contingent. A former economics professor with a Ph.D. in economics and a law degree, Snow arrived in Richmond in 1980 when railroad giant CSX was formed through a merger. A decade later he became chairman of the board. He quickly sold off the company's non-rail assets and focused the business on being the largest railroad east of the Mississippi.
6. Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder
The grandson of slaves, Wilder graduated from Virginia Union University with a degree in chemistry in 1951. He is a Korean War veteran and a recipient of the Bronze Star for heroism in combat. After working as a chemist in the state medical examiner's office, Wilder took advantage of benefits provided by the G.I. Bill of Rights and studied law at Howard University. In 1959 he earned his degree, passed the Virginia bar exam and set up the law firm Wilder, Gregory and Associates. He won a special election for the Virginia Senate in 1969, and he spent 10 years in the General Assembly before being elected lieutenant governor in 1985. Four years later, he became Virginia's 66th governor — the first elected African-American governor in U.S. history. Wilder is remembered by most as a strong financial manager during a period of economic tumult. He supported community-minded initiatives, particularly upgrades at many of Virginia's colleges, mental health facilities and state parks. His biggest power play of late was leading the campaign for a directly elected mayor in Richmond — even dropping by the U.S. Department of Justice to help make his case. He's now decided to run for the post himself.
7. Eugene P. Trani
President of Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System, Trani oversees one of the nation's top research universities and the region's ninth-largest employer, an enterprise worth more than $1.4 billion in annual revenues. Now in his 15th year, he has transformed VCU from an urban college with sparse funds and resources into a dynamic network of 12 institutions of higher learning. He has created numerous programs — such as the Carver-VCU Partnership — that link VCU students and faculty with the community, and he has established ties with business and governmental leaders throughout the city and state. He helped develop the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park, and VCU is helping revitalize Broad Street. Trani also serves as chairman of Richmond Renaissance, and has received numerous awards for his commitment to public service, technology and economic development.
8. Marilyn B. Tavenner
She started as a nursing supervisor in 1981 at what is now CJW Medical Center. Then Tavenner — sharp, insightful and a big-picture thinker — rose like a quickening pulse. In January, she became one of four group presidents at HCA Inc., the third largest private employer in Richmond and the largest hospital management company in the country. The Martinsville native oversees a growing field, outpatient services, and has wielded influence in a variety of local groups: Richmond Renaissance, Meals on Wheels, the First Freedom Center and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation.
9. Marge M. Connelly
If you are one of the few Richmonders who work somewhere other than Capital One, you may not know Connelly. Locally, she's the highest ranking executive at the financial juggernaut, where she oversees U.S. credit card operations. Connelly, who is an out lesbian, has woven the issue of gay acceptance into her corporate role. She is past president of the Central Virginia Food Bank and a board member for the Greater Richmond Partnership and HCA's CJW Medical Center. The Greater Richmond YWCA named her one of the "Outstanding Women of the Year" in 2003, and the governor recently named her to the board of visitors of Longwood University.
10. Thomas E. Capps
Dominion Resources Inc. CEO Thomas E. Capps has gained momentum of late. He received a pay raise of 160 percent in 2003 — from $2.79 million to $7.22 million in total compensation — as he led the company through tough times in the energy business. Unlike Enron, the company didn't overbuild and rely too heavily on energy trading. As one analyst says of Capps, "He's done a terrific job of guiding Dominion through very turbulent times." Capps, 68, is expected to become even more of a player in philanthropy when he retires. Insiders say he'll step aside within the next two years.
11. Michael Szymanczyk
He's a Yankee transport, but Michael Szymanczyk immediately became a player by association. As chief executive of Philip Morris USA, the domestic division of the world's biggest tobacco company, he's head of a company with yearly net revenues of $17 billion, nearly twice that of the next biggest company in Richmond. He is only a year removed from New York, however, and money watchers in Richmond are still waiting to see how the 55-year-old Szymanczyk will flex his muscle. In 2003, he earned $2.4 million in salary and bonuses.
12. The Robins Family
The late E. Claiborne Robins, who shaped the growth of pharmaceutical giant A.H. Robins — now Wyeth — was practically a founding father of the University of Richmond. His $50 million gift in 1969 was a turning point for the university. His wife, Lora Robins, recently received an award for lifetime achievement in philanthropy from the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She has given substantially to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Virginia Historical Society, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and Maymont. Her daughters help run the Robins Foundation. And her son, E. Claiborne Robins Jr., through his firm, E. C. Robins International, runs businesses as diverse as pharmaceuticals, air charters and wine importing.
13. Attorney General
Jerry Kilgore
Kilgore launched his political career in 1980 as a volunteer with Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign. The former assistant U.S. attorney continues to embrace Reagan's optimistic style. Elected attorney general in 2002, he's pushed initiatives to thwart domestic abuse and support the war on terrorism, increase the use of DNA evidence and combat technology-related crime. Most recently, in the 2004 General Assembly, he marshaled legislation to address Virginia's growing gang problem. As secretary of public safety for Gov. George Allen, Kilgore oversaw 11 state agencies, 17,000 employees and a billion-dollar budget; he also implemented the abolition of parole in Virginia. It is expected he'll be the Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2005. Kilgore is married to Marty Kilgore, a former public school teacher and former deputy secretary of the commonwealth under Gov. Jim Gilmore. She now serves as executive director of the Tobacco Settlement Foundation. The Kilgores have two children, ages 10 and 7.
14. The Gottwald family
With a net worth of roughly $1.2 billion, according to a Virginia Business magazine estimate, Richmond's Gottwalds are more than considerably wealthy. Bruce C. Gottwald presides over the Ethyl Corp. dynasty. In May, the nonprofit for youth Junior Achievement named him to its Greater Richmond Business Hall of Fame. His elder brother, Floyd D. Gottwald Jr., oversees Albemarle Corp., a chemical production company named for the family's first business in the paper industry. John D. Gottwald, son of Floyd, runs Tredegar Industries. The family has made significant contributions to the Virginia Historical Society, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Science Museum of Virginia, the University of Richmond and Virginia Military Institute. Teddy Gottwald, son of Bruce, is a trustee of the Science Museum and serves on the advisory board of Interfaith Housing Corp. Bruce Gottwald's wife, Nancy H., and William M., son of Floyd, are members of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. Last year Gov. Mark Warner appointed Nancy Gottwald to the VMFA's board of trustees.
15. The Weinstein Family
In the last year, the Weinsteins and their family members — Marcus and Carole, their daughter, Allison, her husband, Ivan Jecklin, and Marcus's brother, Philip — have seen the fruits of their philanthropy. Together, they donated $8.5 million to the University of Richmond's new social sciences building, dedicated in October. They gave $3 million toward the $16 million renovation of the Marcus and Carole Weinstein Jewish Community Center, dedicated in June. Allison is one of five trustees at UR leading a new $200 million capital campaign. The family's Weinstein Management Company, which Marcus founded in 1962, owns more than 9,000 apartments in Richmond.
16. Robert L. Burrus Jr.
The chairman and partner of McGuireWoods oversees a legal powerhouse that includes 750 lawyers — 198 of them in Richmond — as well as a consulting branch and a mergers-and-acquisitions advisory firm. But he is welcomed in other board rooms, too. Burrus serves as a director on the boards of CSX Corp., Smithfield Foods and S & K Famous Brands Inc. And he is a trustee at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the University of Richmond, where colleagues recently started a fellowship program in his name to award scholarships to students at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies.
17. Robert S. Ukrop
When he's not aglow from his newest role as granddad, Bobby Ukrop is busy making his rounds of the 29 stores that have made Ukrop's a household name in central Virginia. For 27 years he's held regular meetings of the company's new employees to hear feedback and pep them up. He's an avid soccer enthusiast and coach, and parlays his love of sports into his post as trustee of the University of Richmond and its athletic council. The president and chief executive of Ukrop's Super Markets — and younger brother to Jim — serves on the boards of the Science Museum of Virginia and the Greater Richmond Partnership.
18. Dr. Frank S. Royal
He may be known as a family physician, but Royal is one of the corporate world's most wanted. He's a board director for six publicly traded companies: Chesapeake Corp., CSX Corp., Dominion Resources Inc., HCA Inc., SunTrust Banks Inc. and most recently, Smithfield Foods. Royal also leads the board of trustees at his alma mater, Virginia Union University, which is tackling financial challenges and a leadership transition. One of his big goals is to ensure its future, he says, "that it be there for my grandchildren — and I have eight of those, ranging from 2 to 14."
19. William E. Cooper
He wants to turn the University of Richmond into an Ivy League-level school. Since Bill Cooper became president in 1998, he's done more than just shake up the small, but high-profile conservative university with Baptist roots. He nixed the health and sports science departments, eliminated the education graduate programs and began recruiting higher-profile faculty. He added sexual orientation to the university's nondiscrimination policy, which led the Virginia Baptist Mission Board to withdraw its funding and membership on the board of trustees. It seems to have had little effect, however, as UR now boasts an endowment of $1.1 billion, nearly $400 million more than before Cooper took the helm. This year, the university launched its largest capital campaign, with the goal of raising $200 million by 2008.
20. The Markel Family and Alan I. Kirshner
The family behind the $2.8 billion Markel Corp. is known for giving to the arts and supporting all things Richmond, including giving generously to the now-defunct Richmond Renegades. But the family is probably best-known for smart, no-frills business. The company's top three executives — Alan Kirshner and cousins Tony Markel and Steve Markel — each made a relatively modest $630,000 last year for a company that has remained extremely profitable over the years by insuring businesses that other under-writers tend to shy away from, such as taxicabs and health clubs.
21. Ralph L. "Bill" Axselle Jr.
Everybody calls him Bill because as a child his unbounded energy reminded his family of the legendary baseball-player-turned-evangelist Billy Sunday. Today, that zeal defines him in a way that is disarmingly unpretentious yet effective. He's a partner in the law firm Williams Mullen, and an active member of Second Baptist Church and was a 16-year member of the Virginia House of Delegates. What's on his mind most these days is Jamestown's quadricentennial and how to make the most of it. He's chairman of Richmond Region 2007 and is a member of its executive committee and board of directors. He's served on community boards and commissions under five governors. In 2003 he was re-appointed by Warner to the board of visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University. He's also on the boards of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the University of North Carolina. Born and raised in Glen Allen, Axselle is married to Anne Maiden Axselle, and they have three adult children.
22. State Sen. Walter A. Stosch
A nut for numbers and efficiency, State Sen. Walter Stosch is majority leader of the state Senate. After earning an accounting degree and an M.B.A. from the University of Richmond, he founded an accounting firm in 1961. Twelve years later, the firm merged with Deloitte & Touche, where he became a partner. Now Stosch runs a consulting firm that figures the value of businesses and works with corporate audit committees — in-demand services in today's corporate climate. This year, Stosch used an overhead projector to school some politicians about the state budget. Fortunately for Gov. Warner, Stosch broke away from his fellow Republicans, leading a gang of five to help bust the budget standoff. "We had several commitments that had to be met," he explains. Stosch works with the Community Foundation, and is a board director for Universal Corp.
23. Stanley F. Pauley
The Carpenter Co., which makes foam and fiber cushion products, is one of the largest private companies in Richmond. And Pauley, its chairman and chief executive, is at the helm of about 7,500 employees — about 500 in Richmond. A fellow power broker says Pauley is a businessman to be reckoned with, a man who can make things happen behind the scenes. The electrical engineer's educational reach is expansive, extending from the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus, to Hampden-Sydney College, where he is a past member of the board, to VCU, where he is a trustee for the School of Engineering Foundation. He and his wife, Dorothy, have given generously to local causes, most visibly the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Their $5 million gift last year helped launch the museum's now $150 million capital campaign.
24. Lt. Gov. Timothy Kaine
"Being lieutenant governor is a lot like being vice president," University of Virginia political pundit Larry Sabato told Style in 2003 for a cover story on Kaine. "Your job is to inquire after the health of the governor and position yourself to run for his job. His future depends greatly on how Warner does, and conditions couldn't be worse for Warner." Look what's developed since: a budget. Kaine pushed for a compromise, proving himself to be dexterous and savvy. The former Richmond mayor stretches statewide for educational reforms, open government and public safety. He serves on the Secure Virginia Panel (the state's anti-terrorism task force), Virginia's Military Advisory Council and is chairman of Virginia's Disability Commission. He is married to Anne Holton, a judge in Richmond's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, with whom he has three children. Next: He is the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor in 2005.
25. Former Gov. Gerald L. Baliles
As governor of Virginia from 1986 to 1990, Gerald Baliles established the state's first cabinet-level post for economic development and its first multiyear transportation improvement plan. He also helped create the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond. He looked to the future of central Virginia with equal degrees of optimism and concern. He does the same today, just out of the public eye. Yet he says his days have grown longer since becoming lead partner of the international practice group at the law firm Hunton & Williams. Baliles has become an expert on the airline industry, and he advises businesses and organizations on such wide-ranging issues as public policy, international relations and the environment. He plans to direct more of his attention to new road construction in the Richmond area before, he warns, there's no more public money to fund it. He's also a writer, editor and angler, going "wherever the fish are," he says. Baliles and his wife, Robin, live in Stratford Hills.
26. Del. Franklin P. Hall
An elder at First Presbyterian Church and a Democrat, Hall is minority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates. He's represented both Richmond and Chesterfield County constituents in the state's 69th District since 1976. For his seniority, he's received plum committee assignments: Appropriations; Rules; and Cities, Counties and Towns. In the 2004 session, he successfully sponsored a bill specifying how localities must disclose cash payments and expenditures. Hall serves as chairman of Commonwealth Bank and the Central Richmond Association. He is also on the boards of the Virginia Mental Health Association, Offender Aid and Restoration, and the Richmond Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.
27. Gordon F. Rainey Jr.
The chairman of Richmond's largest law firm, Hunton & Williams, Gordon Rainey oversees a powerhouse of intellectual capital. Rainey's specialty, corporate finance, reflects the personality of the firm, which has seen much of its corporate business — including big-bank headquarters — move elsewhere during the past decade and a half. The firm fields one of Philip Morris USA's legal teams — a portfolio builder — and has gained numerous Fortune 500 clients across the globe. It's just that Richmond isn't as relevant anymore. Yet Rainey, recently named rector of the University of Virginia's board of visitors, is on numerous corporate boards of directors locally and is a player in Richmond philanthropy.
28. J. Harwood Cochrane
The founder of Overnite Transportation is a local legend. Cochrane and his wife, Louise, have given $20 million to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to purchase American art. He gave $8 million to the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board before writing them out of his will, citing displeasure with fundamentalists. The 91-year-old trucking pioneer founded Overnite with a single truck in 1935 — he delivered everything from cigarettes to Ukrop's groceries. After selling Overnite to Union Pacific in 1986 for $1.2 billion, a merger that fared badly, Cochrane started Highway Express Inc. in 1991 at the age of 79. He founded that company, some say, largely to show Overnite how things should be done. He sold that company in the fall.
29. State Sen. John C. Watkins
State Sen. John C. Watkins is Chesterfield County's highest ranking politician, having served in the Virginia General Assembly for 22 years, first as a member of the House of Delegates from 1982 to 1998. A ranking Republican, Watkins has been a powerful figure in local politics and a key supporter of public transit. And his family sits on a key piece of developable land along Route 288 (it's slated for a shopping mall, among other things). Perhaps most important, Watkins has continued to call for more regional cooperation in a county where the politics are tinged with racism and many county residents still resent Richmond for annexing its easternmost corridor in 1970.
30. G. Gilmer Minor III
A former cadet at Virginia Military Institute, Gil Minor has mastered the art of survival as chief executive of Owens & Minor, a Richmond medical supply company. He resisted Wall Street's call to slash and burn after a near-fatal blow in May of 1998 — Columbia/HCA abruptly pulled $370 million worth of business — and managed to overcome a difficult merger with Stuart Medical in 1994. Since the late 1990s, the company has seen its stock rebound and sales triple, on the way to becoming one of the most efficient medical supply manufacturers in the country. Minor, ever the cadet, is known for his no-nonsense approach to business. He also serves on the boards of the Virginia Biotechnology Park and Richmond Renaissance.
31. Ivor Massey Jr. and Family
Ivor Massey made his millions in the stock market, then bequeathed the fortune to his son. Ivor Massey Jr. has alternately amassed huge sums and watched bits of them slip away. And whether through venture investments or goodwill giving, the family's money has made a mark on Richmond. Their personal involvement in the programs and institutions they support is paramount. Most notably, there's the internationally recognized Massey Cancer Center at VCU Health System. Also, Massey Jr. is president of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and is an appointee to the board of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
32. State Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert
"I remember telling my father in high school that I was going to be in the General Assembly one day," Lambert recalls, with his customary soft chuckle. He's worked in both chambers, first as a delegate and now as a senator. The optometrist and Democrat ranks fifth in seniority in the Senate, second when it comes to his place on the coveted and powerful finance committee. He also serves on the boards for student-loan agency Sallie Mae, Dominion Resources, Consolidated Bank and is secretary of the board of trustees for Virginia Union University. Lambert is best known for using his influence to make Richmond more inclusive. His wife, Carolyn, is from Niagra Falls. Together they've raised four community-minded children engaged in everything from city government to the new, hip Hyperlink Café. Lambert's favorite title, he says, is granddad — he has two young grandsons.
33. Daniel J. Ludeman
Daniel Ludeman was managing director of Richmond's most powerful brokerage of yesteryear, Wheat First Butcher Singer. His promotion to president and CEO of Wachovia Securities in 1999 has proven pivotal for Richmond. Carolina's Richmond hustle, in which Richmond lost Wheat First to Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union (now Wachovia), has actually helped the city. With Ludeman at the helm, Wachovia's purchase of Prudential Securities in July 2003 brought more than a thousand new jobs to Richmond, which is now on its way to becoming home to the country's third largest brokerage. Meanwhile, Richmond is re-establishing itself as a key financial hub in the South.
34. Beverley W. "Booty" Armstrong
Best known as co-owner of The Jefferson Hotel, Booty Armstrong, vice chairman of CCA Industries, is one of the area's most influential investors and civic leaders. Through his association with William H. Goodwin Jr. — he's Goodwin's most trusted partner — Armstrong is part owner of the West Creek business park in Goochland County, a former co-owner of AMF Bowling, and no-nonsense manager of numerous assets at CCA, including Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The straight-talking Armstrong is a more vocal political player than Goodwin and a key proponent behind the planned Virginia Performing Arts Center downtown. He's also an important voice at the influential Richmond Renaissance.
35. Robert F. Norfleet Jr.
Of the old Richmond banking guard, Robert Norfleet, a former corporate executive at Crestar Bank before the bank was purchased by SunTrust in the mid-1990s, has been an active voice and increasingly powerful player in local politics and civic boosterism. A regular op-ed page contributor to the Times-Dispatch, Norfleet has been at the forefront of the at-large mayor debate and the poster executive for Richmond's continuing identity crisis in the wake of North Carolina's big-bank takeover. He serves on numerous local boards and as chairman of the all-powerful Community Foundation, Richmond's nonprofit of nonprofits with more than $440 million in assets.
36. Thomas Bliley Jr.
Before Bliley, a former Republican U.S. representative, joined forces with a former Democratic governor to champion a referendum allowing for an at-large mayor, there were funerals. Bliley's father, Joseph W., grew Bliley Funeral Homes into a Richmond institution. Then Bliley, with his signature bow ties, was elected to Richmond City Council in 1968. Two years later, he became mayor. Next, he moved on to Washington, D.C. In his 10 House terms, he earned a reputation as one of its most powerful members, particularly on free-market enterprise issues and tobacco. Today, the retired Bliley may not play the game every day, as one friend puts it, but his recent partnership with Wilder shows he can still muster attention.
37. Thomas F. Farrell II
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
President of Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System, Trani oversees one of the nation's top research universities and the region's ninth-largest employer, an enterprise worth more than $1.4 billion in annual revenues. Now in his 15th year, he has transformed VCU from an urban college with sparse funds and resources into a dynamic network of 12 institutions of higher learning. He has created numerous programs — such as the Carver-VCU Partnership — that link VCU students and faculty with the community, and he has established ties with business and governmental leaders throughout the city and state. He helped develop the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park, and VCU is helping revitalize Broad Street. Trani also serves as chairman of Richmond Renaissance, and has received numerous awards for his commitment to public service, technology and economic development.
8. Marilyn B. Tavenner
She started as a nursing supervisor in 1981 at what is now CJW Medical Center. Then Tavenner — sharp, insightful and a big-picture thinker — rose like a quickening pulse. In January, she became one of four group presidents at HCA Inc., the third largest private employer in Richmond and the largest hospital management company in the country. The Martinsville native oversees a growing field, outpatient services, and has wielded influence in a variety of local groups: Richmond Renaissance, Meals on Wheels, the First Freedom Center and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation.
9. Marge M. Connelly
If you are one of the few Richmonders who work somewhere other than Capital One, you may not know Connelly. Locally, she's the highest ranking executive at the financial juggernaut, where she oversees U.S. credit card operations. Connelly, who is an out lesbian, has woven the issue of gay acceptance into her corporate role. She is past president of the Central Virginia Food Bank and a board member for the Greater Richmond Partnership and HCA's CJW Medical Center. The Greater Richmond YWCA named her one of the "Outstanding Women of the Year" in 2003, and the governor recently named her to the board of visitors of Longwood University.
10. Thomas E. Capps
Dominion Resources Inc. CEO Thomas E. Capps has gained momentum of late. He received a pay raise of 160 percent in 2003 — from $2.79 million to $7.22 million in total compensation — as he led the company through tough times in the energy business. Unlike Enron, the company didn't overbuild and rely too heavily on energy trading. As one analyst says of Capps, "He's done a terrific job of guiding Dominion through very turbulent times." Capps, 68, is expected to become even more of a player in philanthropy when he retires. Insiders say he'll step aside within the next two years.
11. Michael Szymanczyk
He's a Yankee transport, but Michael Szymanczyk immediately became a player by association. As chief executive of Philip Morris USA, the domestic division of the world's biggest tobacco company, he's head of a company with yearly net revenues of $17 billion, nearly twice that of the next biggest company in Richmond. He is only a year removed from New York, however, and money watchers in Richmond are still waiting to see how the 55-year-old Szymanczyk will flex his muscle. In 2003, he earned $2.4 million in salary and bonuses.
12. The Robins Family
The late E. Claiborne Robins, who shaped the growth of pharmaceutical giant A.H. Robins — now Wyeth — was practically a founding father of the University of Richmond. His $50 million gift in 1969 was a turning point for the university. His wife, Lora Robins, recently received an award for lifetime achievement in philanthropy from the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She has given substantially to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Virginia Historical Society, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and Maymont. Her daughters help run the Robins Foundation. And her son, E. Claiborne Robins Jr., through his firm, E. C. Robins International, runs businesses as diverse as pharmaceuticals, air charters and wine importing.
13. Attorney General
Jerry Kilgore
Kilgore launched his political career in 1980 as a volunteer with Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign. The former assistant U.S. attorney continues to embrace Reagan's optimistic style. Elected attorney general in 2002, he's pushed initiatives to thwart domestic abuse and support the war on terrorism, increase the use of DNA evidence and combat technology-related crime. Most recently, in the 2004 General Assembly, he marshaled legislation to address Virginia's growing gang problem. As secretary of public safety for Gov. George Allen, Kilgore oversaw 11 state agencies, 17,000 employees and a billion-dollar budget; he also implemented the abolition of parole in Virginia. It is expected he'll be the Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2005. Kilgore is married to Marty Kilgore, a former public school teacher and former deputy secretary of the commonwealth under Gov. Jim Gilmore. She now serves as executive director of the Tobacco Settlement Foundation. The Kilgores have two children, ages 10 and 7.
14. The Gottwald family
With a net worth of roughly $1.2 billion, according to a Virginia Business magazine estimate, Richmond's Gottwalds are more than considerably wealthy. Bruce C. Gottwald presides over the Ethyl Corp. dynasty. In May, the nonprofit for youth Junior Achievement named him to its Greater Richmond Business Hall of Fame. His elder brother, Floyd D. Gottwald Jr., oversees Albemarle Corp., a chemical production company named for the family's first business in the paper industry. John D. Gottwald, son of Floyd, runs Tredegar Industries. The family has made significant contributions to the Virginia Historical Society, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Science Museum of Virginia, the University of Richmond and Virginia Military Institute. Teddy Gottwald, son of Bruce, is a trustee of the Science Museum and serves on the advisory board of Interfaith Housing Corp. Bruce Gottwald's wife, Nancy H., and William M., son of Floyd, are members of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. Last year Gov. Mark Warner appointed Nancy Gottwald to the VMFA's board of trustees.
15. The Weinstein Family
In the last year, the Weinsteins and their family members — Marcus and Carole, their daughter, Allison, her husband, Ivan Jecklin, and Marcus's brother, Philip — have seen the fruits of their philanthropy. Together, they donated $8.5 million to the University of Richmond's new social sciences building, dedicated in October. They gave $3 million toward the $16 million renovation of the Marcus and Carole Weinstein Jewish Community Center, dedicated in June. Allison is one of five trustees at UR leading a new $200 million capital campaign. The family's Weinstein Management Company, which Marcus founded in 1962, owns more than 9,000 apartments in Richmond.
16. Robert L. Burrus Jr.
The chairman and partner of McGuireWoods oversees a legal powerhouse that includes 750 lawyers — 198 of them in Richmond — as well as a consulting branch and a mergers-and-acquisitions advisory firm. But he is welcomed in other board rooms, too. Burrus serves as a director on the boards of CSX Corp., Smithfield Foods and S & K Famous Brands Inc. And he is a trustee at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the University of Richmond, where colleagues recently started a fellowship program in his name to award scholarships to students at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies.
17. Robert S. Ukrop
When he's not aglow from his newest role as granddad, Bobby Ukrop is busy making his rounds of the 29 stores that have made Ukrop's a household name in central Virginia. For 27 years he's held regular meetings of the company's new employees to hear feedback and pep them up. He's an avid soccer enthusiast and coach, and parlays his love of sports into his post as trustee of the University of Richmond and its athletic council. The president and chief executive of Ukrop's Super Markets — and younger brother to Jim — serves on the boards of the Science Museum of Virginia and the Greater Richmond Partnership.
18. Dr. Frank S. Royal
He may be known as a family physician, but Royal is one of the corporate world's most wanted. He's a board director for six publicly traded companies: Chesapeake Corp., CSX Corp., Dominion Resources Inc., HCA Inc., SunTrust Banks Inc. and most recently, Smithfield Foods. Royal also leads the board of trustees at his alma mater, Virginia Union University, which is tackling financial challenges and a leadership transition. One of his big goals is to ensure its future, he says, "that it be there for my grandchildren — and I have eight of those, ranging from 2 to 14."
19. William E. Cooper
He wants to turn the University of Richmond into an Ivy League-level school. Since Bill Cooper became president in 1998, he's done more than just shake up the small, but high-profile conservative university with Baptist roots. He nixed the health and sports science departments, eliminated the education graduate programs and began recruiting higher-profile faculty. He added sexual orientation to the university's nondiscrimination policy, which led the Virginia Baptist Mission Board to withdraw its funding and membership on the board of trustees. It seems to have had little effect, however, as UR now boasts an endowment of $1.1 billion, nearly $400 million more than before Cooper took the helm. This year, the university launched its largest capital campaign, with the goal of raising $200 million by 2008.
20. The Markel Family and Alan I. Kirshner
The family behind the $2.8 billion Markel Corp. is known for giving to the arts and supporting all things Richmond, including giving generously to the now-defunct Richmond Renegades. But the family is probably best-known for smart, no-frills business. The company's top three executives — Alan Kirshner and cousins Tony Markel and Steve Markel — each made a relatively modest $630,000 last year for a company that has remained extremely profitable over the years by insuring businesses that other under-writers tend to shy away from, such as taxicabs and health clubs.
21. Ralph L. "Bill" Axselle Jr.
Everybody calls him Bill because as a child his unbounded energy reminded his family of the legendary baseball-player-turned-evangelist Billy Sunday. Today, that zeal defines him in a way that is disarmingly unpretentious yet effective. He's a partner in the law firm Williams Mullen, and an active member of Second Baptist Church and was a 16-year member of the Virginia House of Delegates. What's on his mind most these days is Jamestown's quadricentennial and how to make the most of it. He's chairman of Richmond Region 2007 and is a member of its executive committee and board of directors. He's served on community boards and commissions under five governors. In 2003 he was re-appointed by Warner to the board of visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University. He's also on the boards of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the University of North Carolina. Born and raised in Glen Allen, Axselle is married to Anne Maiden Axselle, and they have three adult children.
22. State Sen. Walter A. Stosch
A nut for numbers and efficiency, State Sen. Walter Stosch is majority leader of the state Senate. After earning an accounting degree and an M.B.A. from the University of Richmond, he founded an accounting firm in 1961. Twelve years later, the firm merged with Deloitte & Touche, where he became a partner. Now Stosch runs a consulting firm that figures the value of businesses and works with corporate audit committees — in-demand services in today's corporate climate. This year, Stosch used an overhead projector to school some politicians about the state budget. Fortunately for Gov. Warner, Stosch broke away from his fellow Republicans, leading a gang of five to help bust the budget standoff. "We had several commitments that had to be met," he explains. Stosch works with the Community Foundation, and is a board director for Universal Corp.
23. Stanley F. Pauley
The Carpenter Co., which makes foam and fiber cushion products, is one of the largest private companies in Richmond. And Pauley, its chairman and chief executive, is at the helm of about 7,500 employees — about 500 in Richmond. A fellow power broker says Pauley is a businessman to be reckoned with, a man who can make things happen behind the scenes. The electrical engineer's educational reach is expansive, extending from the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus, to Hampden-Sydney College, where he is a past member of the board, to VCU, where he is a trustee for the School of Engineering Foundation. He and his wife, Dorothy, have given generously to local causes, most visibly the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Their $5 million gift last year helped launch the museum's now $150 million capital campaign.
24. Lt. Gov. Timothy Kaine
"Being lieutenant governor is a lot like being vice president," University of Virginia political pundit Larry Sabato told Style in 2003 for a cover story on Kaine. "Your job is to inquire after the health of the governor and position yourself to run for his job. His future depends greatly on how Warner does, and conditions couldn't be worse for Warner." Look what's developed since: a budget. Kaine pushed for a compromise, proving himself to be dexterous and savvy. The former Richmond mayor stretches statewide for educational reforms, open government and public safety. He serves on the Secure Virginia Panel (the state's anti-terrorism task force), Virginia's Military Advisory Council and is chairman of Virginia's Disability Commission. He is married to Anne Holton, a judge in Richmond's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, with whom he has three children. Next: He is the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor in 2005.
25. Former Gov. Gerald L. Baliles
As governor of Virginia from 1986 to 1990, Gerald Baliles established the state's first cabinet-level post for economic development and its first multiyear transportation improvement plan. He also helped create the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond. He looked to the future of central Virginia with equal degrees of optimism and concern. He does the same today, just out of the public eye. Yet he says his days have grown longer since becoming lead partner of the international practice group at the law firm Hunton & Williams. Baliles has become an expert on the airline industry, and he advises businesses and organizations on such wide-ranging issues as public policy, international relations and the environment. He plans to direct more of his attention to new road construction in the Richmond area before, he warns, there's no more public money to fund it. He's also a writer, editor and angler, going "wherever the fish are," he says. Baliles and his wife, Robin, live in Stratford Hills.
26. Del. Franklin P. Hall
An elder at First Presbyterian Church and a Democrat, Hall is minority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates. He's represented both Richmond and Chesterfield County constituents in the state's 69th District since 1976. For his seniority, he's received plum committee assignments: Appropriations; Rules; and Cities, Counties and Towns. In the 2004 session, he successfully sponsored a bill specifying how localities must disclose cash payments and expenditures. Hall serves as chairman of Commonwealth Bank and the Central Richmond Association. He is also on the boards of the Virginia Mental Health Association, Offender Aid and Restoration, and the Richmond Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.
27. Gordon F. Rainey Jr.
The chairman of Richmond's largest law firm, Hunton & Williams, Gordon Rainey oversees a powerhouse of intellectual capital. Rainey's specialty, corporate finance, reflects the personality of the firm, which has seen much of its corporate business — including big-bank headquarters — move elsewhere during the past decade and a half. The firm fields one of Philip Morris USA's legal teams — a portfolio builder — and has gained numerous Fortune 500 clients across the globe. It's just that Richmond isn't as relevant anymore. Yet Rainey, recently named rector of the University of Virginia's board of visitors, is on numerous corporate boards of directors locally and is a player in Richmond philanthropy.
28. J. Harwood Cochrane
The founder of Overnite Transportation is a local legend. Cochrane and his wife, Louise, have given $20 million to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to purchase American art. He gave $8 million to the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board before writing them out of his will, citing displeasure with fundamentalists. The 91-year-old trucking pioneer founded Overnite with a single truck in 1935 — he delivered everything from cigarettes to Ukrop's groceries. After selling Overnite to Union Pacific in 1986 for $1.2 billion, a merger that fared badly, Cochrane started Highway Express Inc. in 1991 at the age of 79. He founded that company, some say, largely to show Overnite how things should be done. He sold that company in the fall.
29. State Sen. John C. Watkins
State Sen. John C. Watkins is Chesterfield County's highest ranking politician, having served in the Virginia General Assembly for 22 years, first as a member of the House of Delegates from 1982 to 1998. A ranking Republican, Watkins has been a powerful figure in local politics and a key supporter of public transit. And his family sits on a key piece of developable land along Route 288 (it's slated for a shopping mall, among other things). Perhaps most important, Watkins has continued to call for more regional cooperation in a county where the politics are tinged with racism and many county residents still resent Richmond for annexing its easternmost corridor in 1970.
30. G. Gilmer Minor III
A former cadet at Virginia Military Institute, Gil Minor has mastered the art of survival as chief executive of Owens & Minor, a Richmond medical supply company. He resisted Wall Street's call to slash and burn after a near-fatal blow in May of 1998 — Columbia/HCA abruptly pulled $370 million worth of business — and managed to overcome a difficult merger with Stuart Medical in 1994. Since the late 1990s, the company has seen its stock rebound and sales triple, on the way to becoming one of the most efficient medical supply manufacturers in the country. Minor, ever the cadet, is known for his no-nonsense approach to business. He also serves on the boards of the Virginia Biotechnology Park and Richmond Renaissance.
31. Ivor Massey Jr. and Family
Ivor Massey made his millions in the stock market, then bequeathed the fortune to his son. Ivor Massey Jr. has alternately amassed huge sums and watched bits of them slip away. And whether through venture investments or goodwill giving, the family's money has made a mark on Richmond. Their personal involvement in the programs and institutions they support is paramount. Most notably, there's the internationally recognized Massey Cancer Center at VCU Health System. Also, Massey Jr. is president of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and is an appointee to the board of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
32. State Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert
"I remember telling my father in high school that I was going to be in the General Assembly one day," Lambert recalls, with his customary soft chuckle. He's worked in both chambers, first as a delegate and now as a senator. The optometrist and Democrat ranks fifth in seniority in the Senate, second when it comes to his place on the coveted and powerful finance committee. He also serves on the boards for student-loan agency Sallie Mae, Dominion Resources, Consolidated Bank and is secretary of the board of trustees for Virginia Union University. Lambert is best known for using his influence to make Richmond more inclusive. His wife, Carolyn, is from Niagra Falls. Together they've raised four community-minded children engaged in everything from city government to the new, hip Hyperlink Café. Lambert's favorite title, he says, is granddad — he has two young grandsons.
33. Daniel J. Ludeman
Daniel Ludeman was managing director of Richmond's most powerful brokerage of yesteryear, Wheat First Butcher Singer. His promotion to president and CEO of Wachovia Securities in 1999 has proven pivotal for Richmond. Carolina's Richmond hustle, in which Richmond lost Wheat First to Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union (now Wachovia), has actually helped the city. With Ludeman at the helm, Wachovia's purchase of Prudential Securities in July 2003 brought more than a thousand new jobs to Richmond, which is now on its way to becoming home to the country's third largest brokerage. Meanwhile, Richmond is re-establishing itself as a key financial hub in the South.
34. Beverley W. "Booty" Armstrong
Best known as co-owner of The Jefferson Hotel, Booty Armstrong, vice chairman of CCA Industries, is one of the area's most influential investors and civic leaders. Through his association with William H. Goodwin Jr. — he's Goodwin's most trusted partner — Armstrong is part owner of the West Creek business park in Goochland County, a former co-owner of AMF Bowling, and no-nonsense manager of numerous assets at CCA, including Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The straight-talking Armstrong is a more vocal political player than Goodwin and a key proponent behind the planned Virginia Performing Arts Center downtown. He's also an important voice at the influential Richmond Renaissance.
35. Robert F. Norfleet Jr.
Of the old Richmond banking guard, Robert Norfleet, a former corporate executive at Crestar Bank before the bank was purchased by SunTrust in the mid-1990s, has been an active voice and increasingly powerful player in local politics and civic boosterism. A regular op-ed page contributor to the Times-Dispatch, Norfleet has been at the forefront of the at-large mayor debate and the poster executive for Richmond's continuing identity crisis in the wake of North Carolina's big-bank takeover. He serves on numerous local boards and as chairman of the all-powerful Community Foundation, Richmond's nonprofit of nonprofits with more than $440 million in assets.
36. Thomas Bliley Jr.
Before Bliley, a former Republican U.S. representative, joined forces with a former Democratic governor to champion a referendum allowing for an at-large mayor, there were funerals. Bliley's father, Joseph W., grew Bliley Funeral Homes into a Richmond institution. Then Bliley, with his signature bow ties, was elected to Richmond City Council in 1968. Two years later, he became mayor. Next, he moved on to Washington, D.C. In his 10 House terms, he earned a reputation as one of its most powerful members, particularly on free-market enterprise issues and tobacco. Today, the retired Bliley may not play the game every day, as one friend puts it, but his recent partnership with Wilder shows he can still muster attention.
37. Thomas F. Farrell II
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
If you are one of the few Richmonders who work somewhere other than Capital One, you may not know Connelly. Locally, she's the highest ranking executive at the financial juggernaut, where she oversees U.S. credit card operations. Connelly, who is an out lesbian, has woven the issue of gay acceptance into her corporate role. She is past president of the Central Virginia Food Bank and a board member for the Greater Richmond Partnership and HCA's CJW Medical Center. The Greater Richmond YWCA named her one of the "Outstanding Women of the Year" in 2003, and the governor recently named her to the board of visitors of Longwood University.
10. Thomas E. Capps
Dominion Resources Inc. CEO Thomas E. Capps has gained momentum of late. He received a pay raise of 160 percent in 2003 — from $2.79 million to $7.22 million in total compensation — as he led the company through tough times in the energy business. Unlike Enron, the company didn't overbuild and rely too heavily on energy trading. As one analyst says of Capps, "He's done a terrific job of guiding Dominion through very turbulent times." Capps, 68, is expected to become even more of a player in philanthropy when he retires. Insiders say he'll step aside within the next two years.
11. Michael Szymanczyk
He's a Yankee transport, but Michael Szymanczyk immediately became a player by association. As chief executive of Philip Morris USA, the domestic division of the world's biggest tobacco company, he's head of a company with yearly net revenues of $17 billion, nearly twice that of the next biggest company in Richmond. He is only a year removed from New York, however, and money watchers in Richmond are still waiting to see how the 55-year-old Szymanczyk will flex his muscle. In 2003, he earned $2.4 million in salary and bonuses.
12. The Robins Family
The late E. Claiborne Robins, who shaped the growth of pharmaceutical giant A.H. Robins — now Wyeth — was practically a founding father of the University of Richmond. His $50 million gift in 1969 was a turning point for the university. His wife, Lora Robins, recently received an award for lifetime achievement in philanthropy from the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She has given substantially to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Virginia Historical Society, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and Maymont. Her daughters help run the Robins Foundation. And her son, E. Claiborne Robins Jr., through his firm, E. C. Robins International, runs businesses as diverse as pharmaceuticals, air charters and wine importing.
13. Attorney General
Jerry Kilgore
Kilgore launched his political career in 1980 as a volunteer with Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign. The former assistant U.S. attorney continues to embrace Reagan's optimistic style. Elected attorney general in 2002, he's pushed initiatives to thwart domestic abuse and support the war on terrorism, increase the use of DNA evidence and combat technology-related crime. Most recently, in the 2004 General Assembly, he marshaled legislation to address Virginia's growing gang problem. As secretary of public safety for Gov. George Allen, Kilgore oversaw 11 state agencies, 17,000 employees and a billion-dollar budget; he also implemented the abolition of parole in Virginia. It is expected he'll be the Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2005. Kilgore is married to Marty Kilgore, a former public school teacher and former deputy secretary of the commonwealth under Gov. Jim Gilmore. She now serves as executive director of the Tobacco Settlement Foundation. The Kilgores have two children, ages 10 and 7.
14. The Gottwald family
With a net worth of roughly $1.2 billion, according to a Virginia Business magazine estimate, Richmond's Gottwalds are more than considerably wealthy. Bruce C. Gottwald presides over the Ethyl Corp. dynasty. In May, the nonprofit for youth Junior Achievement named him to its Greater Richmond Business Hall of Fame. His elder brother, Floyd D. Gottwald Jr., oversees Albemarle Corp., a chemical production company named for the family's first business in the paper industry. John D. Gottwald, son of Floyd, runs Tredegar Industries. The family has made significant contributions to the Virginia Historical Society, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Science Museum of Virginia, the University of Richmond and Virginia Military Institute. Teddy Gottwald, son of Bruce, is a trustee of the Science Museum and serves on the advisory board of Interfaith Housing Corp. Bruce Gottwald's wife, Nancy H., and William M., son of Floyd, are members of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. Last year Gov. Mark Warner appointed Nancy Gottwald to the VMFA's board of trustees.
15. The Weinstein Family
In the last year, the Weinsteins and their family members — Marcus and Carole, their daughter, Allison, her husband, Ivan Jecklin, and Marcus's brother, Philip — have seen the fruits of their philanthropy. Together, they donated $8.5 million to the University of Richmond's new social sciences building, dedicated in October. They gave $3 million toward the $16 million renovation of the Marcus and Carole Weinstein Jewish Community Center, dedicated in June. Allison is one of five trustees at UR leading a new $200 million capital campaign. The family's Weinstein Management Company, which Marcus founded in 1962, owns more than 9,000 apartments in Richmond.
16. Robert L. Burrus Jr.
The chairman and partner of McGuireWoods oversees a legal powerhouse that includes 750 lawyers — 198 of them in Richmond — as well as a consulting branch and a mergers-and-acquisitions advisory firm. But he is welcomed in other board rooms, too. Burrus serves as a director on the boards of CSX Corp., Smithfield Foods and S & K Famous Brands Inc. And he is a trustee at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the University of Richmond, where colleagues recently started a fellowship program in his name to award scholarships to students at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies.
17. Robert S. Ukrop
When he's not aglow from his newest role as granddad, Bobby Ukrop is busy making his rounds of the 29 stores that have made Ukrop's a household name in central Virginia. For 27 years he's held regular meetings of the company's new employees to hear feedback and pep them up. He's an avid soccer enthusiast and coach, and parlays his love of sports into his post as trustee of the University of Richmond and its athletic council. The president and chief executive of Ukrop's Super Markets — and younger brother to Jim — serves on the boards of the Science Museum of Virginia and the Greater Richmond Partnership.
18. Dr. Frank S. Royal
He may be known as a family physician, but Royal is one of the corporate world's most wanted. He's a board director for six publicly traded companies: Chesapeake Corp., CSX Corp., Dominion Resources Inc., HCA Inc., SunTrust Banks Inc. and most recently, Smithfield Foods. Royal also leads the board of trustees at his alma mater, Virginia Union University, which is tackling financial challenges and a leadership transition. One of his big goals is to ensure its future, he says, "that it be there for my grandchildren — and I have eight of those, ranging from 2 to 14."
19. William E. Cooper
He wants to turn the University of Richmond into an Ivy League-level school. Since Bill Cooper became president in 1998, he's done more than just shake up the small, but high-profile conservative university with Baptist roots. He nixed the health and sports science departments, eliminated the education graduate programs and began recruiting higher-profile faculty. He added sexual orientation to the university's nondiscrimination policy, which led the Virginia Baptist Mission Board to withdraw its funding and membership on the board of trustees. It seems to have had little effect, however, as UR now boasts an endowment of $1.1 billion, nearly $400 million more than before Cooper took the helm. This year, the university launched its largest capital campaign, with the goal of raising $200 million by 2008.
20. The Markel Family and Alan I. Kirshner
The family behind the $2.8 billion Markel Corp. is known for giving to the arts and supporting all things Richmond, including giving generously to the now-defunct Richmond Renegades. But the family is probably best-known for smart, no-frills business. The company's top three executives — Alan Kirshner and cousins Tony Markel and Steve Markel — each made a relatively modest $630,000 last year for a company that has remained extremely profitable over the years by insuring businesses that other under-writers tend to shy away from, such as taxicabs and health clubs.
21. Ralph L. "Bill" Axselle Jr.
Everybody calls him Bill because as a child his unbounded energy reminded his family of the legendary baseball-player-turned-evangelist Billy Sunday. Today, that zeal defines him in a way that is disarmingly unpretentious yet effective. He's a partner in the law firm Williams Mullen, and an active member of Second Baptist Church and was a 16-year member of the Virginia House of Delegates. What's on his mind most these days is Jamestown's quadricentennial and how to make the most of it. He's chairman of Richmond Region 2007 and is a member of its executive committee and board of directors. He's served on community boards and commissions under five governors. In 2003 he was re-appointed by Warner to the board of visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University. He's also on the boards of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the University of North Carolina. Born and raised in Glen Allen, Axselle is married to Anne Maiden Axselle, and they have three adult children.
22. State Sen. Walter A. Stosch
A nut for numbers and efficiency, State Sen. Walter Stosch is majority leader of the state Senate. After earning an accounting degree and an M.B.A. from the University of Richmond, he founded an accounting firm in 1961. Twelve years later, the firm merged with Deloitte & Touche, where he became a partner. Now Stosch runs a consulting firm that figures the value of businesses and works with corporate audit committees — in-demand services in today's corporate climate. This year, Stosch used an overhead projector to school some politicians about the state budget. Fortunately for Gov. Warner, Stosch broke away from his fellow Republicans, leading a gang of five to help bust the budget standoff. "We had several commitments that had to be met," he explains. Stosch works with the Community Foundation, and is a board director for Universal Corp.
23. Stanley F. Pauley
The Carpenter Co., which makes foam and fiber cushion products, is one of the largest private companies in Richmond. And Pauley, its chairman and chief executive, is at the helm of about 7,500 employees — about 500 in Richmond. A fellow power broker says Pauley is a businessman to be reckoned with, a man who can make things happen behind the scenes. The electrical engineer's educational reach is expansive, extending from the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus, to Hampden-Sydney College, where he is a past member of the board, to VCU, where he is a trustee for the School of Engineering Foundation. He and his wife, Dorothy, have given generously to local causes, most visibly the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Their $5 million gift last year helped launch the museum's now $150 million capital campaign.
24. Lt. Gov. Timothy Kaine
"Being lieutenant governor is a lot like being vice president," University of Virginia political pundit Larry Sabato told Style in 2003 for a cover story on Kaine. "Your job is to inquire after the health of the governor and position yourself to run for his job. His future depends greatly on how Warner does, and conditions couldn't be worse for Warner." Look what's developed since: a budget. Kaine pushed for a compromise, proving himself to be dexterous and savvy. The former Richmond mayor stretches statewide for educational reforms, open government and public safety. He serves on the Secure Virginia Panel (the state's anti-terrorism task force), Virginia's Military Advisory Council and is chairman of Virginia's Disability Commission. He is married to Anne Holton, a judge in Richmond's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, with whom he has three children. Next: He is the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor in 2005.
25. Former Gov. Gerald L. Baliles
As governor of Virginia from 1986 to 1990, Gerald Baliles established the state's first cabinet-level post for economic development and its first multiyear transportation improvement plan. He also helped create the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond. He looked to the future of central Virginia with equal degrees of optimism and concern. He does the same today, just out of the public eye. Yet he says his days have grown longer since becoming lead partner of the international practice group at the law firm Hunton & Williams. Baliles has become an expert on the airline industry, and he advises businesses and organizations on such wide-ranging issues as public policy, international relations and the environment. He plans to direct more of his attention to new road construction in the Richmond area before, he warns, there's no more public money to fund it. He's also a writer, editor and angler, going "wherever the fish are," he says. Baliles and his wife, Robin, live in Stratford Hills.
26. Del. Franklin P. Hall
An elder at First Presbyterian Church and a Democrat, Hall is minority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates. He's represented both Richmond and Chesterfield County constituents in the state's 69th District since 1976. For his seniority, he's received plum committee assignments: Appropriations; Rules; and Cities, Counties and Towns. In the 2004 session, he successfully sponsored a bill specifying how localities must disclose cash payments and expenditures. Hall serves as chairman of Commonwealth Bank and the Central Richmond Association. He is also on the boards of the Virginia Mental Health Association, Offender Aid and Restoration, and the Richmond Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.
27. Gordon F. Rainey Jr.
The chairman of Richmond's largest law firm, Hunton & Williams, Gordon Rainey oversees a powerhouse of intellectual capital. Rainey's specialty, corporate finance, reflects the personality of the firm, which has seen much of its corporate business — including big-bank headquarters — move elsewhere during the past decade and a half. The firm fields one of Philip Morris USA's legal teams — a portfolio builder — and has gained numerous Fortune 500 clients across the globe. It's just that Richmond isn't as relevant anymore. Yet Rainey, recently named rector of the University of Virginia's board of visitors, is on numerous corporate boards of directors locally and is a player in Richmond philanthropy.
28. J. Harwood Cochrane
The founder of Overnite Transportation is a local legend. Cochrane and his wife, Louise, have given $20 million to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to purchase American art. He gave $8 million to the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board before writing them out of his will, citing displeasure with fundamentalists. The 91-year-old trucking pioneer founded Overnite with a single truck in 1935 — he delivered everything from cigarettes to Ukrop's groceries. After selling Overnite to Union Pacific in 1986 for $1.2 billion, a merger that fared badly, Cochrane started Highway Express Inc. in 1991 at the age of 79. He founded that company, some say, largely to show Overnite how things should be done. He sold that company in the fall.
29. State Sen. John C. Watkins
State Sen. John C. Watkins is Chesterfield County's highest ranking politician, having served in the Virginia General Assembly for 22 years, first as a member of the House of Delegates from 1982 to 1998. A ranking Republican, Watkins has been a powerful figure in local politics and a key supporter of public transit. And his family sits on a key piece of developable land along Route 288 (it's slated for a shopping mall, among other things). Perhaps most important, Watkins has continued to call for more regional cooperation in a county where the politics are tinged with racism and many county residents still resent Richmond for annexing its easternmost corridor in 1970.
30. G. Gilmer Minor III
A former cadet at Virginia Military Institute, Gil Minor has mastered the art of survival as chief executive of Owens & Minor, a Richmond medical supply company. He resisted Wall Street's call to slash and burn after a near-fatal blow in May of 1998 — Columbia/HCA abruptly pulled $370 million worth of business — and managed to overcome a difficult merger with Stuart Medical in 1994. Since the late 1990s, the company has seen its stock rebound and sales triple, on the way to becoming one of the most efficient medical supply manufacturers in the country. Minor, ever the cadet, is known for his no-nonsense approach to business. He also serves on the boards of the Virginia Biotechnology Park and Richmond Renaissance.
31. Ivor Massey Jr. and Family
Ivor Massey made his millions in the stock market, then bequeathed the fortune to his son. Ivor Massey Jr. has alternately amassed huge sums and watched bits of them slip away. And whether through venture investments or goodwill giving, the family's money has made a mark on Richmond. Their personal involvement in the programs and institutions they support is paramount. Most notably, there's the internationally recognized Massey Cancer Center at VCU Health System. Also, Massey Jr. is president of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and is an appointee to the board of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
32. State Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert
"I remember telling my father in high school that I was going to be in the General Assembly one day," Lambert recalls, with his customary soft chuckle. He's worked in both chambers, first as a delegate and now as a senator. The optometrist and Democrat ranks fifth in seniority in the Senate, second when it comes to his place on the coveted and powerful finance committee. He also serves on the boards for student-loan agency Sallie Mae, Dominion Resources, Consolidated Bank and is secretary of the board of trustees for Virginia Union University. Lambert is best known for using his influence to make Richmond more inclusive. His wife, Carolyn, is from Niagra Falls. Together they've raised four community-minded children engaged in everything from city government to the new, hip Hyperlink Café. Lambert's favorite title, he says, is granddad — he has two young grandsons.
33. Daniel J. Ludeman
Daniel Ludeman was managing director of Richmond's most powerful brokerage of yesteryear, Wheat First Butcher Singer. His promotion to president and CEO of Wachovia Securities in 1999 has proven pivotal for Richmond. Carolina's Richmond hustle, in which Richmond lost Wheat First to Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union (now Wachovia), has actually helped the city. With Ludeman at the helm, Wachovia's purchase of Prudential Securities in July 2003 brought more than a thousand new jobs to Richmond, which is now on its way to becoming home to the country's third largest brokerage. Meanwhile, Richmond is re-establishing itself as a key financial hub in the South.
34. Beverley W. "Booty" Armstrong
Best known as co-owner of The Jefferson Hotel, Booty Armstrong, vice chairman of CCA Industries, is one of the area's most influential investors and civic leaders. Through his association with William H. Goodwin Jr. — he's Goodwin's most trusted partner — Armstrong is part owner of the West Creek business park in Goochland County, a former co-owner of AMF Bowling, and no-nonsense manager of numerous assets at CCA, including Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The straight-talking Armstrong is a more vocal political player than Goodwin and a key proponent behind the planned Virginia Performing Arts Center downtown. He's also an important voice at the influential Richmond Renaissance.
35. Robert F. Norfleet Jr.
Of the old Richmond banking guard, Robert Norfleet, a former corporate executive at Crestar Bank before the bank was purchased by SunTrust in the mid-1990s, has been an active voice and increasingly powerful player in local politics and civic boosterism. A regular op-ed page contributor to the Times-Dispatch, Norfleet has been at the forefront of the at-large mayor debate and the poster executive for Richmond's continuing identity crisis in the wake of North Carolina's big-bank takeover. He serves on numerous local boards and as chairman of the all-powerful Community Foundation, Richmond's nonprofit of nonprofits with more than $440 million in assets.
36. Thomas Bliley Jr.
Before Bliley, a former Republican U.S. representative, joined forces with a former Democratic governor to champion a referendum allowing for an at-large mayor, there were funerals. Bliley's father, Joseph W., grew Bliley Funeral Homes into a Richmond institution. Then Bliley, with his signature bow ties, was elected to Richmond City Council in 1968. Two years later, he became mayor. Next, he moved on to Washington, D.C. In his 10 House terms, he earned a reputation as one of its most powerful members, particularly on free-market enterprise issues and tobacco. Today, the retired Bliley may not play the game every day, as one friend puts it, but his recent partnership with Wilder shows he can still muster attention.
37. Thomas F. Farrell II
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
He's a Yankee transport, but Michael Szymanczyk immediately became a player by association. As chief executive of Philip Morris USA, the domestic division of the world's biggest tobacco company, he's head of a company with yearly net revenues of $17 billion, nearly twice that of the next biggest company in Richmond. He is only a year removed from New York, however, and money watchers in Richmond are still waiting to see how the 55-year-old Szymanczyk will flex his muscle. In 2003, he earned $2.4 million in salary and bonuses.
12. The Robins Family
The late E. Claiborne Robins, who shaped the growth of pharmaceutical giant A.H. Robins — now Wyeth — was practically a founding father of the University of Richmond. His $50 million gift in 1969 was a turning point for the university. His wife, Lora Robins, recently received an award for lifetime achievement in philanthropy from the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She has given substantially to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Virginia Historical Society, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and Maymont. Her daughters help run the Robins Foundation. And her son, E. Claiborne Robins Jr., through his firm, E. C. Robins International, runs businesses as diverse as pharmaceuticals, air charters and wine importing.
13. Attorney General
Jerry Kilgore
Kilgore launched his political career in 1980 as a volunteer with Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign. The former assistant U.S. attorney continues to embrace Reagan's optimistic style. Elected attorney general in 2002, he's pushed initiatives to thwart domestic abuse and support the war on terrorism, increase the use of DNA evidence and combat technology-related crime. Most recently, in the 2004 General Assembly, he marshaled legislation to address Virginia's growing gang problem. As secretary of public safety for Gov. George Allen, Kilgore oversaw 11 state agencies, 17,000 employees and a billion-dollar budget; he also implemented the abolition of parole in Virginia. It is expected he'll be the Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2005. Kilgore is married to Marty Kilgore, a former public school teacher and former deputy secretary of the commonwealth under Gov. Jim Gilmore. She now serves as executive director of the Tobacco Settlement Foundation. The Kilgores have two children, ages 10 and 7.
14. The Gottwald family
With a net worth of roughly $1.2 billion, according to a Virginia Business magazine estimate, Richmond's Gottwalds are more than considerably wealthy. Bruce C. Gottwald presides over the Ethyl Corp. dynasty. In May, the nonprofit for youth Junior Achievement named him to its Greater Richmond Business Hall of Fame. His elder brother, Floyd D. Gottwald Jr., oversees Albemarle Corp., a chemical production company named for the family's first business in the paper industry. John D. Gottwald, son of Floyd, runs Tredegar Industries. The family has made significant contributions to the Virginia Historical Society, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Science Museum of Virginia, the University of Richmond and Virginia Military Institute. Teddy Gottwald, son of Bruce, is a trustee of the Science Museum and serves on the advisory board of Interfaith Housing Corp. Bruce Gottwald's wife, Nancy H., and William M., son of Floyd, are members of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. Last year Gov. Mark Warner appointed Nancy Gottwald to the VMFA's board of trustees.
15. The Weinstein Family
In the last year, the Weinsteins and their family members — Marcus and Carole, their daughter, Allison, her husband, Ivan Jecklin, and Marcus's brother, Philip — have seen the fruits of their philanthropy. Together, they donated $8.5 million to the University of Richmond's new social sciences building, dedicated in October. They gave $3 million toward the $16 million renovation of the Marcus and Carole Weinstein Jewish Community Center, dedicated in June. Allison is one of five trustees at UR leading a new $200 million capital campaign. The family's Weinstein Management Company, which Marcus founded in 1962, owns more than 9,000 apartments in Richmond.
16. Robert L. Burrus Jr.
The chairman and partner of McGuireWoods oversees a legal powerhouse that includes 750 lawyers — 198 of them in Richmond — as well as a consulting branch and a mergers-and-acquisitions advisory firm. But he is welcomed in other board rooms, too. Burrus serves as a director on the boards of CSX Corp., Smithfield Foods and S & K Famous Brands Inc. And he is a trustee at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the University of Richmond, where colleagues recently started a fellowship program in his name to award scholarships to students at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies.
17. Robert S. Ukrop
When he's not aglow from his newest role as granddad, Bobby Ukrop is busy making his rounds of the 29 stores that have made Ukrop's a household name in central Virginia. For 27 years he's held regular meetings of the company's new employees to hear feedback and pep them up. He's an avid soccer enthusiast and coach, and parlays his love of sports into his post as trustee of the University of Richmond and its athletic council. The president and chief executive of Ukrop's Super Markets — and younger brother to Jim — serves on the boards of the Science Museum of Virginia and the Greater Richmond Partnership.
18. Dr. Frank S. Royal
He may be known as a family physician, but Royal is one of the corporate world's most wanted. He's a board director for six publicly traded companies: Chesapeake Corp., CSX Corp., Dominion Resources Inc., HCA Inc., SunTrust Banks Inc. and most recently, Smithfield Foods. Royal also leads the board of trustees at his alma mater, Virginia Union University, which is tackling financial challenges and a leadership transition. One of his big goals is to ensure its future, he says, "that it be there for my grandchildren — and I have eight of those, ranging from 2 to 14."
19. William E. Cooper
He wants to turn the University of Richmond into an Ivy League-level school. Since Bill Cooper became president in 1998, he's done more than just shake up the small, but high-profile conservative university with Baptist roots. He nixed the health and sports science departments, eliminated the education graduate programs and began recruiting higher-profile faculty. He added sexual orientation to the university's nondiscrimination policy, which led the Virginia Baptist Mission Board to withdraw its funding and membership on the board of trustees. It seems to have had little effect, however, as UR now boasts an endowment of $1.1 billion, nearly $400 million more than before Cooper took the helm. This year, the university launched its largest capital campaign, with the goal of raising $200 million by 2008.
20. The Markel Family and Alan I. Kirshner
The family behind the $2.8 billion Markel Corp. is known for giving to the arts and supporting all things Richmond, including giving generously to the now-defunct Richmond Renegades. But the family is probably best-known for smart, no-frills business. The company's top three executives — Alan Kirshner and cousins Tony Markel and Steve Markel — each made a relatively modest $630,000 last year for a company that has remained extremely profitable over the years by insuring businesses that other under-writers tend to shy away from, such as taxicabs and health clubs.
21. Ralph L. "Bill" Axselle Jr.
Everybody calls him Bill because as a child his unbounded energy reminded his family of the legendary baseball-player-turned-evangelist Billy Sunday. Today, that zeal defines him in a way that is disarmingly unpretentious yet effective. He's a partner in the law firm Williams Mullen, and an active member of Second Baptist Church and was a 16-year member of the Virginia House of Delegates. What's on his mind most these days is Jamestown's quadricentennial and how to make the most of it. He's chairman of Richmond Region 2007 and is a member of its executive committee and board of directors. He's served on community boards and commissions under five governors. In 2003 he was re-appointed by Warner to the board of visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University. He's also on the boards of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the University of North Carolina. Born and raised in Glen Allen, Axselle is married to Anne Maiden Axselle, and they have three adult children.
22. State Sen. Walter A. Stosch
A nut for numbers and efficiency, State Sen. Walter Stosch is majority leader of the state Senate. After earning an accounting degree and an M.B.A. from the University of Richmond, he founded an accounting firm in 1961. Twelve years later, the firm merged with Deloitte & Touche, where he became a partner. Now Stosch runs a consulting firm that figures the value of businesses and works with corporate audit committees — in-demand services in today's corporate climate. This year, Stosch used an overhead projector to school some politicians about the state budget. Fortunately for Gov. Warner, Stosch broke away from his fellow Republicans, leading a gang of five to help bust the budget standoff. "We had several commitments that had to be met," he explains. Stosch works with the Community Foundation, and is a board director for Universal Corp.
23. Stanley F. Pauley
The Carpenter Co., which makes foam and fiber cushion products, is one of the largest private companies in Richmond. And Pauley, its chairman and chief executive, is at the helm of about 7,500 employees — about 500 in Richmond. A fellow power broker says Pauley is a businessman to be reckoned with, a man who can make things happen behind the scenes. The electrical engineer's educational reach is expansive, extending from the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus, to Hampden-Sydney College, where he is a past member of the board, to VCU, where he is a trustee for the School of Engineering Foundation. He and his wife, Dorothy, have given generously to local causes, most visibly the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Their $5 million gift last year helped launch the museum's now $150 million capital campaign.
24. Lt. Gov. Timothy Kaine
"Being lieutenant governor is a lot like being vice president," University of Virginia political pundit Larry Sabato told Style in 2003 for a cover story on Kaine. "Your job is to inquire after the health of the governor and position yourself to run for his job. His future depends greatly on how Warner does, and conditions couldn't be worse for Warner." Look what's developed since: a budget. Kaine pushed for a compromise, proving himself to be dexterous and savvy. The former Richmond mayor stretches statewide for educational reforms, open government and public safety. He serves on the Secure Virginia Panel (the state's anti-terrorism task force), Virginia's Military Advisory Council and is chairman of Virginia's Disability Commission. He is married to Anne Holton, a judge in Richmond's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, with whom he has three children. Next: He is the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor in 2005.
25. Former Gov. Gerald L. Baliles
As governor of Virginia from 1986 to 1990, Gerald Baliles established the state's first cabinet-level post for economic development and its first multiyear transportation improvement plan. He also helped create the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond. He looked to the future of central Virginia with equal degrees of optimism and concern. He does the same today, just out of the public eye. Yet he says his days have grown longer since becoming lead partner of the international practice group at the law firm Hunton & Williams. Baliles has become an expert on the airline industry, and he advises businesses and organizations on such wide-ranging issues as public policy, international relations and the environment. He plans to direct more of his attention to new road construction in the Richmond area before, he warns, there's no more public money to fund it. He's also a writer, editor and angler, going "wherever the fish are," he says. Baliles and his wife, Robin, live in Stratford Hills.
26. Del. Franklin P. Hall
An elder at First Presbyterian Church and a Democrat, Hall is minority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates. He's represented both Richmond and Chesterfield County constituents in the state's 69th District since 1976. For his seniority, he's received plum committee assignments: Appropriations; Rules; and Cities, Counties and Towns. In the 2004 session, he successfully sponsored a bill specifying how localities must disclose cash payments and expenditures. Hall serves as chairman of Commonwealth Bank and the Central Richmond Association. He is also on the boards of the Virginia Mental Health Association, Offender Aid and Restoration, and the Richmond Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.
27. Gordon F. Rainey Jr.
The chairman of Richmond's largest law firm, Hunton & Williams, Gordon Rainey oversees a powerhouse of intellectual capital. Rainey's specialty, corporate finance, reflects the personality of the firm, which has seen much of its corporate business — including big-bank headquarters — move elsewhere during the past decade and a half. The firm fields one of Philip Morris USA's legal teams — a portfolio builder — and has gained numerous Fortune 500 clients across the globe. It's just that Richmond isn't as relevant anymore. Yet Rainey, recently named rector of the University of Virginia's board of visitors, is on numerous corporate boards of directors locally and is a player in Richmond philanthropy.
28. J. Harwood Cochrane
The founder of Overnite Transportation is a local legend. Cochrane and his wife, Louise, have given $20 million to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to purchase American art. He gave $8 million to the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board before writing them out of his will, citing displeasure with fundamentalists. The 91-year-old trucking pioneer founded Overnite with a single truck in 1935 — he delivered everything from cigarettes to Ukrop's groceries. After selling Overnite to Union Pacific in 1986 for $1.2 billion, a merger that fared badly, Cochrane started Highway Express Inc. in 1991 at the age of 79. He founded that company, some say, largely to show Overnite how things should be done. He sold that company in the fall.
29. State Sen. John C. Watkins
State Sen. John C. Watkins is Chesterfield County's highest ranking politician, having served in the Virginia General Assembly for 22 years, first as a member of the House of Delegates from 1982 to 1998. A ranking Republican, Watkins has been a powerful figure in local politics and a key supporter of public transit. And his family sits on a key piece of developable land along Route 288 (it's slated for a shopping mall, among other things). Perhaps most important, Watkins has continued to call for more regional cooperation in a county where the politics are tinged with racism and many county residents still resent Richmond for annexing its easternmost corridor in 1970.
30. G. Gilmer Minor III
A former cadet at Virginia Military Institute, Gil Minor has mastered the art of survival as chief executive of Owens & Minor, a Richmond medical supply company. He resisted Wall Street's call to slash and burn after a near-fatal blow in May of 1998 — Columbia/HCA abruptly pulled $370 million worth of business — and managed to overcome a difficult merger with Stuart Medical in 1994. Since the late 1990s, the company has seen its stock rebound and sales triple, on the way to becoming one of the most efficient medical supply manufacturers in the country. Minor, ever the cadet, is known for his no-nonsense approach to business. He also serves on the boards of the Virginia Biotechnology Park and Richmond Renaissance.
31. Ivor Massey Jr. and Family
Ivor Massey made his millions in the stock market, then bequeathed the fortune to his son. Ivor Massey Jr. has alternately amassed huge sums and watched bits of them slip away. And whether through venture investments or goodwill giving, the family's money has made a mark on Richmond. Their personal involvement in the programs and institutions they support is paramount. Most notably, there's the internationally recognized Massey Cancer Center at VCU Health System. Also, Massey Jr. is president of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and is an appointee to the board of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
32. State Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert
"I remember telling my father in high school that I was going to be in the General Assembly one day," Lambert recalls, with his customary soft chuckle. He's worked in both chambers, first as a delegate and now as a senator. The optometrist and Democrat ranks fifth in seniority in the Senate, second when it comes to his place on the coveted and powerful finance committee. He also serves on the boards for student-loan agency Sallie Mae, Dominion Resources, Consolidated Bank and is secretary of the board of trustees for Virginia Union University. Lambert is best known for using his influence to make Richmond more inclusive. His wife, Carolyn, is from Niagra Falls. Together they've raised four community-minded children engaged in everything from city government to the new, hip Hyperlink Café. Lambert's favorite title, he says, is granddad — he has two young grandsons.
33. Daniel J. Ludeman
Daniel Ludeman was managing director of Richmond's most powerful brokerage of yesteryear, Wheat First Butcher Singer. His promotion to president and CEO of Wachovia Securities in 1999 has proven pivotal for Richmond. Carolina's Richmond hustle, in which Richmond lost Wheat First to Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union (now Wachovia), has actually helped the city. With Ludeman at the helm, Wachovia's purchase of Prudential Securities in July 2003 brought more than a thousand new jobs to Richmond, which is now on its way to becoming home to the country's third largest brokerage. Meanwhile, Richmond is re-establishing itself as a key financial hub in the South.
34. Beverley W. "Booty" Armstrong
Best known as co-owner of The Jefferson Hotel, Booty Armstrong, vice chairman of CCA Industries, is one of the area's most influential investors and civic leaders. Through his association with William H. Goodwin Jr. — he's Goodwin's most trusted partner — Armstrong is part owner of the West Creek business park in Goochland County, a former co-owner of AMF Bowling, and no-nonsense manager of numerous assets at CCA, including Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The straight-talking Armstrong is a more vocal political player than Goodwin and a key proponent behind the planned Virginia Performing Arts Center downtown. He's also an important voice at the influential Richmond Renaissance.
35. Robert F. Norfleet Jr.
Of the old Richmond banking guard, Robert Norfleet, a former corporate executive at Crestar Bank before the bank was purchased by SunTrust in the mid-1990s, has been an active voice and increasingly powerful player in local politics and civic boosterism. A regular op-ed page contributor to the Times-Dispatch, Norfleet has been at the forefront of the at-large mayor debate and the poster executive for Richmond's continuing identity crisis in the wake of North Carolina's big-bank takeover. He serves on numerous local boards and as chairman of the all-powerful Community Foundation, Richmond's nonprofit of nonprofits with more than $440 million in assets.
36. Thomas Bliley Jr.
Before Bliley, a former Republican U.S. representative, joined forces with a former Democratic governor to champion a referendum allowing for an at-large mayor, there were funerals. Bliley's father, Joseph W., grew Bliley Funeral Homes into a Richmond institution. Then Bliley, with his signature bow ties, was elected to Richmond City Council in 1968. Two years later, he became mayor. Next, he moved on to Washington, D.C. In his 10 House terms, he earned a reputation as one of its most powerful members, particularly on free-market enterprise issues and tobacco. Today, the retired Bliley may not play the game every day, as one friend puts it, but his recent partnership with Wilder shows he can still muster attention.
37. Thomas F. Farrell II
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
Jerry Kilgore
Kilgore launched his political career in 1980 as a volunteer with Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign. The former assistant U.S. attorney continues to embrace Reagan's optimistic style. Elected attorney general in 2002, he's pushed initiatives to thwart domestic abuse and support the war on terrorism, increase the use of DNA evidence and combat technology-related crime. Most recently, in the 2004 General Assembly, he marshaled legislation to address Virginia's growing gang problem. As secretary of public safety for Gov. George Allen, Kilgore oversaw 11 state agencies, 17,000 employees and a billion-dollar budget; he also implemented the abolition of parole in Virginia. It is expected he'll be the Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2005. Kilgore is married to Marty Kilgore, a former public school teacher and former deputy secretary of the commonwealth under Gov. Jim Gilmore. She now serves as executive director of the Tobacco Settlement Foundation. The Kilgores have two children, ages 10 and 7.
14. The Gottwald family
With a net worth of roughly $1.2 billion, according to a Virginia Business magazine estimate, Richmond's Gottwalds are more than considerably wealthy. Bruce C. Gottwald presides over the Ethyl Corp. dynasty. In May, the nonprofit for youth Junior Achievement named him to its Greater Richmond Business Hall of Fame. His elder brother, Floyd D. Gottwald Jr., oversees Albemarle Corp., a chemical production company named for the family's first business in the paper industry. John D. Gottwald, son of Floyd, runs Tredegar Industries. The family has made significant contributions to the Virginia Historical Society, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Science Museum of Virginia, the University of Richmond and Virginia Military Institute. Teddy Gottwald, son of Bruce, is a trustee of the Science Museum and serves on the advisory board of Interfaith Housing Corp. Bruce Gottwald's wife, Nancy H., and William M., son of Floyd, are members of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. Last year Gov. Mark Warner appointed Nancy Gottwald to the VMFA's board of trustees.
15. The Weinstein Family
In the last year, the Weinsteins and their family members — Marcus and Carole, their daughter, Allison, her husband, Ivan Jecklin, and Marcus's brother, Philip — have seen the fruits of their philanthropy. Together, they donated $8.5 million to the University of Richmond's new social sciences building, dedicated in October. They gave $3 million toward the $16 million renovation of the Marcus and Carole Weinstein Jewish Community Center, dedicated in June. Allison is one of five trustees at UR leading a new $200 million capital campaign. The family's Weinstein Management Company, which Marcus founded in 1962, owns more than 9,000 apartments in Richmond.
16. Robert L. Burrus Jr.
The chairman and partner of McGuireWoods oversees a legal powerhouse that includes 750 lawyers — 198 of them in Richmond — as well as a consulting branch and a mergers-and-acquisitions advisory firm. But he is welcomed in other board rooms, too. Burrus serves as a director on the boards of CSX Corp., Smithfield Foods and S & K Famous Brands Inc. And he is a trustee at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the University of Richmond, where colleagues recently started a fellowship program in his name to award scholarships to students at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies.
17. Robert S. Ukrop
When he's not aglow from his newest role as granddad, Bobby Ukrop is busy making his rounds of the 29 stores that have made Ukrop's a household name in central Virginia. For 27 years he's held regular meetings of the company's new employees to hear feedback and pep them up. He's an avid soccer enthusiast and coach, and parlays his love of sports into his post as trustee of the University of Richmond and its athletic council. The president and chief executive of Ukrop's Super Markets — and younger brother to Jim — serves on the boards of the Science Museum of Virginia and the Greater Richmond Partnership.
18. Dr. Frank S. Royal
He may be known as a family physician, but Royal is one of the corporate world's most wanted. He's a board director for six publicly traded companies: Chesapeake Corp., CSX Corp., Dominion Resources Inc., HCA Inc., SunTrust Banks Inc. and most recently, Smithfield Foods. Royal also leads the board of trustees at his alma mater, Virginia Union University, which is tackling financial challenges and a leadership transition. One of his big goals is to ensure its future, he says, "that it be there for my grandchildren — and I have eight of those, ranging from 2 to 14."
19. William E. Cooper
He wants to turn the University of Richmond into an Ivy League-level school. Since Bill Cooper became president in 1998, he's done more than just shake up the small, but high-profile conservative university with Baptist roots. He nixed the health and sports science departments, eliminated the education graduate programs and began recruiting higher-profile faculty. He added sexual orientation to the university's nondiscrimination policy, which led the Virginia Baptist Mission Board to withdraw its funding and membership on the board of trustees. It seems to have had little effect, however, as UR now boasts an endowment of $1.1 billion, nearly $400 million more than before Cooper took the helm. This year, the university launched its largest capital campaign, with the goal of raising $200 million by 2008.
20. The Markel Family and Alan I. Kirshner
The family behind the $2.8 billion Markel Corp. is known for giving to the arts and supporting all things Richmond, including giving generously to the now-defunct Richmond Renegades. But the family is probably best-known for smart, no-frills business. The company's top three executives — Alan Kirshner and cousins Tony Markel and Steve Markel — each made a relatively modest $630,000 last year for a company that has remained extremely profitable over the years by insuring businesses that other under-writers tend to shy away from, such as taxicabs and health clubs.
21. Ralph L. "Bill" Axselle Jr.
Everybody calls him Bill because as a child his unbounded energy reminded his family of the legendary baseball-player-turned-evangelist Billy Sunday. Today, that zeal defines him in a way that is disarmingly unpretentious yet effective. He's a partner in the law firm Williams Mullen, and an active member of Second Baptist Church and was a 16-year member of the Virginia House of Delegates. What's on his mind most these days is Jamestown's quadricentennial and how to make the most of it. He's chairman of Richmond Region 2007 and is a member of its executive committee and board of directors. He's served on community boards and commissions under five governors. In 2003 he was re-appointed by Warner to the board of visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University. He's also on the boards of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the University of North Carolina. Born and raised in Glen Allen, Axselle is married to Anne Maiden Axselle, and they have three adult children.
22. State Sen. Walter A. Stosch
A nut for numbers and efficiency, State Sen. Walter Stosch is majority leader of the state Senate. After earning an accounting degree and an M.B.A. from the University of Richmond, he founded an accounting firm in 1961. Twelve years later, the firm merged with Deloitte & Touche, where he became a partner. Now Stosch runs a consulting firm that figures the value of businesses and works with corporate audit committees — in-demand services in today's corporate climate. This year, Stosch used an overhead projector to school some politicians about the state budget. Fortunately for Gov. Warner, Stosch broke away from his fellow Republicans, leading a gang of five to help bust the budget standoff. "We had several commitments that had to be met," he explains. Stosch works with the Community Foundation, and is a board director for Universal Corp.
23. Stanley F. Pauley
The Carpenter Co., which makes foam and fiber cushion products, is one of the largest private companies in Richmond. And Pauley, its chairman and chief executive, is at the helm of about 7,500 employees — about 500 in Richmond. A fellow power broker says Pauley is a businessman to be reckoned with, a man who can make things happen behind the scenes. The electrical engineer's educational reach is expansive, extending from the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus, to Hampden-Sydney College, where he is a past member of the board, to VCU, where he is a trustee for the School of Engineering Foundation. He and his wife, Dorothy, have given generously to local causes, most visibly the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Their $5 million gift last year helped launch the museum's now $150 million capital campaign.
24. Lt. Gov. Timothy Kaine
"Being lieutenant governor is a lot like being vice president," University of Virginia political pundit Larry Sabato told Style in 2003 for a cover story on Kaine. "Your job is to inquire after the health of the governor and position yourself to run for his job. His future depends greatly on how Warner does, and conditions couldn't be worse for Warner." Look what's developed since: a budget. Kaine pushed for a compromise, proving himself to be dexterous and savvy. The former Richmond mayor stretches statewide for educational reforms, open government and public safety. He serves on the Secure Virginia Panel (the state's anti-terrorism task force), Virginia's Military Advisory Council and is chairman of Virginia's Disability Commission. He is married to Anne Holton, a judge in Richmond's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, with whom he has three children. Next: He is the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor in 2005.
25. Former Gov. Gerald L. Baliles
As governor of Virginia from 1986 to 1990, Gerald Baliles established the state's first cabinet-level post for economic development and its first multiyear transportation improvement plan. He also helped create the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond. He looked to the future of central Virginia with equal degrees of optimism and concern. He does the same today, just out of the public eye. Yet he says his days have grown longer since becoming lead partner of the international practice group at the law firm Hunton & Williams. Baliles has become an expert on the airline industry, and he advises businesses and organizations on such wide-ranging issues as public policy, international relations and the environment. He plans to direct more of his attention to new road construction in the Richmond area before, he warns, there's no more public money to fund it. He's also a writer, editor and angler, going "wherever the fish are," he says. Baliles and his wife, Robin, live in Stratford Hills.
26. Del. Franklin P. Hall
An elder at First Presbyterian Church and a Democrat, Hall is minority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates. He's represented both Richmond and Chesterfield County constituents in the state's 69th District since 1976. For his seniority, he's received plum committee assignments: Appropriations; Rules; and Cities, Counties and Towns. In the 2004 session, he successfully sponsored a bill specifying how localities must disclose cash payments and expenditures. Hall serves as chairman of Commonwealth Bank and the Central Richmond Association. He is also on the boards of the Virginia Mental Health Association, Offender Aid and Restoration, and the Richmond Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.
27. Gordon F. Rainey Jr.
The chairman of Richmond's largest law firm, Hunton & Williams, Gordon Rainey oversees a powerhouse of intellectual capital. Rainey's specialty, corporate finance, reflects the personality of the firm, which has seen much of its corporate business — including big-bank headquarters — move elsewhere during the past decade and a half. The firm fields one of Philip Morris USA's legal teams — a portfolio builder — and has gained numerous Fortune 500 clients across the globe. It's just that Richmond isn't as relevant anymore. Yet Rainey, recently named rector of the University of Virginia's board of visitors, is on numerous corporate boards of directors locally and is a player in Richmond philanthropy.
28. J. Harwood Cochrane
The founder of Overnite Transportation is a local legend. Cochrane and his wife, Louise, have given $20 million to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to purchase American art. He gave $8 million to the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board before writing them out of his will, citing displeasure with fundamentalists. The 91-year-old trucking pioneer founded Overnite with a single truck in 1935 — he delivered everything from cigarettes to Ukrop's groceries. After selling Overnite to Union Pacific in 1986 for $1.2 billion, a merger that fared badly, Cochrane started Highway Express Inc. in 1991 at the age of 79. He founded that company, some say, largely to show Overnite how things should be done. He sold that company in the fall.
29. State Sen. John C. Watkins
State Sen. John C. Watkins is Chesterfield County's highest ranking politician, having served in the Virginia General Assembly for 22 years, first as a member of the House of Delegates from 1982 to 1998. A ranking Republican, Watkins has been a powerful figure in local politics and a key supporter of public transit. And his family sits on a key piece of developable land along Route 288 (it's slated for a shopping mall, among other things). Perhaps most important, Watkins has continued to call for more regional cooperation in a county where the politics are tinged with racism and many county residents still resent Richmond for annexing its easternmost corridor in 1970.
30. G. Gilmer Minor III
A former cadet at Virginia Military Institute, Gil Minor has mastered the art of survival as chief executive of Owens & Minor, a Richmond medical supply company. He resisted Wall Street's call to slash and burn after a near-fatal blow in May of 1998 — Columbia/HCA abruptly pulled $370 million worth of business — and managed to overcome a difficult merger with Stuart Medical in 1994. Since the late 1990s, the company has seen its stock rebound and sales triple, on the way to becoming one of the most efficient medical supply manufacturers in the country. Minor, ever the cadet, is known for his no-nonsense approach to business. He also serves on the boards of the Virginia Biotechnology Park and Richmond Renaissance.
31. Ivor Massey Jr. and Family
Ivor Massey made his millions in the stock market, then bequeathed the fortune to his son. Ivor Massey Jr. has alternately amassed huge sums and watched bits of them slip away. And whether through venture investments or goodwill giving, the family's money has made a mark on Richmond. Their personal involvement in the programs and institutions they support is paramount. Most notably, there's the internationally recognized Massey Cancer Center at VCU Health System. Also, Massey Jr. is president of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and is an appointee to the board of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
32. State Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert
"I remember telling my father in high school that I was going to be in the General Assembly one day," Lambert recalls, with his customary soft chuckle. He's worked in both chambers, first as a delegate and now as a senator. The optometrist and Democrat ranks fifth in seniority in the Senate, second when it comes to his place on the coveted and powerful finance committee. He also serves on the boards for student-loan agency Sallie Mae, Dominion Resources, Consolidated Bank and is secretary of the board of trustees for Virginia Union University. Lambert is best known for using his influence to make Richmond more inclusive. His wife, Carolyn, is from Niagra Falls. Together they've raised four community-minded children engaged in everything from city government to the new, hip Hyperlink Café. Lambert's favorite title, he says, is granddad — he has two young grandsons.
33. Daniel J. Ludeman
Daniel Ludeman was managing director of Richmond's most powerful brokerage of yesteryear, Wheat First Butcher Singer. His promotion to president and CEO of Wachovia Securities in 1999 has proven pivotal for Richmond. Carolina's Richmond hustle, in which Richmond lost Wheat First to Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union (now Wachovia), has actually helped the city. With Ludeman at the helm, Wachovia's purchase of Prudential Securities in July 2003 brought more than a thousand new jobs to Richmond, which is now on its way to becoming home to the country's third largest brokerage. Meanwhile, Richmond is re-establishing itself as a key financial hub in the South.
34. Beverley W. "Booty" Armstrong
Best known as co-owner of The Jefferson Hotel, Booty Armstrong, vice chairman of CCA Industries, is one of the area's most influential investors and civic leaders. Through his association with William H. Goodwin Jr. — he's Goodwin's most trusted partner — Armstrong is part owner of the West Creek business park in Goochland County, a former co-owner of AMF Bowling, and no-nonsense manager of numerous assets at CCA, including Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The straight-talking Armstrong is a more vocal political player than Goodwin and a key proponent behind the planned Virginia Performing Arts Center downtown. He's also an important voice at the influential Richmond Renaissance.
35. Robert F. Norfleet Jr.
Of the old Richmond banking guard, Robert Norfleet, a former corporate executive at Crestar Bank before the bank was purchased by SunTrust in the mid-1990s, has been an active voice and increasingly powerful player in local politics and civic boosterism. A regular op-ed page contributor to the Times-Dispatch, Norfleet has been at the forefront of the at-large mayor debate and the poster executive for Richmond's continuing identity crisis in the wake of North Carolina's big-bank takeover. He serves on numerous local boards and as chairman of the all-powerful Community Foundation, Richmond's nonprofit of nonprofits with more than $440 million in assets.
36. Thomas Bliley Jr.
Before Bliley, a former Republican U.S. representative, joined forces with a former Democratic governor to champion a referendum allowing for an at-large mayor, there were funerals. Bliley's father, Joseph W., grew Bliley Funeral Homes into a Richmond institution. Then Bliley, with his signature bow ties, was elected to Richmond City Council in 1968. Two years later, he became mayor. Next, he moved on to Washington, D.C. In his 10 House terms, he earned a reputation as one of its most powerful members, particularly on free-market enterprise issues and tobacco. Today, the retired Bliley may not play the game every day, as one friend puts it, but his recent partnership with Wilder shows he can still muster attention.
37. Thomas F. Farrell II
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
In the last year, the Weinsteins and their family members — Marcus and Carole, their daughter, Allison, her husband, Ivan Jecklin, and Marcus's brother, Philip — have seen the fruits of their philanthropy. Together, they donated $8.5 million to the University of Richmond's new social sciences building, dedicated in October. They gave $3 million toward the $16 million renovation of the Marcus and Carole Weinstein Jewish Community Center, dedicated in June. Allison is one of five trustees at UR leading a new $200 million capital campaign. The family's Weinstein Management Company, which Marcus founded in 1962, owns more than 9,000 apartments in Richmond.
16. Robert L. Burrus Jr.
The chairman and partner of McGuireWoods oversees a legal powerhouse that includes 750 lawyers — 198 of them in Richmond — as well as a consulting branch and a mergers-and-acquisitions advisory firm. But he is welcomed in other board rooms, too. Burrus serves as a director on the boards of CSX Corp., Smithfield Foods and S & K Famous Brands Inc. And he is a trustee at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the University of Richmond, where colleagues recently started a fellowship program in his name to award scholarships to students at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies.
17. Robert S. Ukrop
When he's not aglow from his newest role as granddad, Bobby Ukrop is busy making his rounds of the 29 stores that have made Ukrop's a household name in central Virginia. For 27 years he's held regular meetings of the company's new employees to hear feedback and pep them up. He's an avid soccer enthusiast and coach, and parlays his love of sports into his post as trustee of the University of Richmond and its athletic council. The president and chief executive of Ukrop's Super Markets — and younger brother to Jim — serves on the boards of the Science Museum of Virginia and the Greater Richmond Partnership.
18. Dr. Frank S. Royal
He may be known as a family physician, but Royal is one of the corporate world's most wanted. He's a board director for six publicly traded companies: Chesapeake Corp., CSX Corp., Dominion Resources Inc., HCA Inc., SunTrust Banks Inc. and most recently, Smithfield Foods. Royal also leads the board of trustees at his alma mater, Virginia Union University, which is tackling financial challenges and a leadership transition. One of his big goals is to ensure its future, he says, "that it be there for my grandchildren — and I have eight of those, ranging from 2 to 14."
19. William E. Cooper
He wants to turn the University of Richmond into an Ivy League-level school. Since Bill Cooper became president in 1998, he's done more than just shake up the small, but high-profile conservative university with Baptist roots. He nixed the health and sports science departments, eliminated the education graduate programs and began recruiting higher-profile faculty. He added sexual orientation to the university's nondiscrimination policy, which led the Virginia Baptist Mission Board to withdraw its funding and membership on the board of trustees. It seems to have had little effect, however, as UR now boasts an endowment of $1.1 billion, nearly $400 million more than before Cooper took the helm. This year, the university launched its largest capital campaign, with the goal of raising $200 million by 2008.
20. The Markel Family and Alan I. Kirshner
The family behind the $2.8 billion Markel Corp. is known for giving to the arts and supporting all things Richmond, including giving generously to the now-defunct Richmond Renegades. But the family is probably best-known for smart, no-frills business. The company's top three executives — Alan Kirshner and cousins Tony Markel and Steve Markel — each made a relatively modest $630,000 last year for a company that has remained extremely profitable over the years by insuring businesses that other under-writers tend to shy away from, such as taxicabs and health clubs.
21. Ralph L. "Bill" Axselle Jr.
Everybody calls him Bill because as a child his unbounded energy reminded his family of the legendary baseball-player-turned-evangelist Billy Sunday. Today, that zeal defines him in a way that is disarmingly unpretentious yet effective. He's a partner in the law firm Williams Mullen, and an active member of Second Baptist Church and was a 16-year member of the Virginia House of Delegates. What's on his mind most these days is Jamestown's quadricentennial and how to make the most of it. He's chairman of Richmond Region 2007 and is a member of its executive committee and board of directors. He's served on community boards and commissions under five governors. In 2003 he was re-appointed by Warner to the board of visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University. He's also on the boards of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the University of North Carolina. Born and raised in Glen Allen, Axselle is married to Anne Maiden Axselle, and they have three adult children.
22. State Sen. Walter A. Stosch
A nut for numbers and efficiency, State Sen. Walter Stosch is majority leader of the state Senate. After earning an accounting degree and an M.B.A. from the University of Richmond, he founded an accounting firm in 1961. Twelve years later, the firm merged with Deloitte & Touche, where he became a partner. Now Stosch runs a consulting firm that figures the value of businesses and works with corporate audit committees — in-demand services in today's corporate climate. This year, Stosch used an overhead projector to school some politicians about the state budget. Fortunately for Gov. Warner, Stosch broke away from his fellow Republicans, leading a gang of five to help bust the budget standoff. "We had several commitments that had to be met," he explains. Stosch works with the Community Foundation, and is a board director for Universal Corp.
23. Stanley F. Pauley
The Carpenter Co., which makes foam and fiber cushion products, is one of the largest private companies in Richmond. And Pauley, its chairman and chief executive, is at the helm of about 7,500 employees — about 500 in Richmond. A fellow power broker says Pauley is a businessman to be reckoned with, a man who can make things happen behind the scenes. The electrical engineer's educational reach is expansive, extending from the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus, to Hampden-Sydney College, where he is a past member of the board, to VCU, where he is a trustee for the School of Engineering Foundation. He and his wife, Dorothy, have given generously to local causes, most visibly the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Their $5 million gift last year helped launch the museum's now $150 million capital campaign.
24. Lt. Gov. Timothy Kaine
"Being lieutenant governor is a lot like being vice president," University of Virginia political pundit Larry Sabato told Style in 2003 for a cover story on Kaine. "Your job is to inquire after the health of the governor and position yourself to run for his job. His future depends greatly on how Warner does, and conditions couldn't be worse for Warner." Look what's developed since: a budget. Kaine pushed for a compromise, proving himself to be dexterous and savvy. The former Richmond mayor stretches statewide for educational reforms, open government and public safety. He serves on the Secure Virginia Panel (the state's anti-terrorism task force), Virginia's Military Advisory Council and is chairman of Virginia's Disability Commission. He is married to Anne Holton, a judge in Richmond's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, with whom he has three children. Next: He is the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor in 2005.
25. Former Gov. Gerald L. Baliles
As governor of Virginia from 1986 to 1990, Gerald Baliles established the state's first cabinet-level post for economic development and its first multiyear transportation improvement plan. He also helped create the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond. He looked to the future of central Virginia with equal degrees of optimism and concern. He does the same today, just out of the public eye. Yet he says his days have grown longer since becoming lead partner of the international practice group at the law firm Hunton & Williams. Baliles has become an expert on the airline industry, and he advises businesses and organizations on such wide-ranging issues as public policy, international relations and the environment. He plans to direct more of his attention to new road construction in the Richmond area before, he warns, there's no more public money to fund it. He's also a writer, editor and angler, going "wherever the fish are," he says. Baliles and his wife, Robin, live in Stratford Hills.
26. Del. Franklin P. Hall
An elder at First Presbyterian Church and a Democrat, Hall is minority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates. He's represented both Richmond and Chesterfield County constituents in the state's 69th District since 1976. For his seniority, he's received plum committee assignments: Appropriations; Rules; and Cities, Counties and Towns. In the 2004 session, he successfully sponsored a bill specifying how localities must disclose cash payments and expenditures. Hall serves as chairman of Commonwealth Bank and the Central Richmond Association. He is also on the boards of the Virginia Mental Health Association, Offender Aid and Restoration, and the Richmond Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.
27. Gordon F. Rainey Jr.
The chairman of Richmond's largest law firm, Hunton & Williams, Gordon Rainey oversees a powerhouse of intellectual capital. Rainey's specialty, corporate finance, reflects the personality of the firm, which has seen much of its corporate business — including big-bank headquarters — move elsewhere during the past decade and a half. The firm fields one of Philip Morris USA's legal teams — a portfolio builder — and has gained numerous Fortune 500 clients across the globe. It's just that Richmond isn't as relevant anymore. Yet Rainey, recently named rector of the University of Virginia's board of visitors, is on numerous corporate boards of directors locally and is a player in Richmond philanthropy.
28. J. Harwood Cochrane
The founder of Overnite Transportation is a local legend. Cochrane and his wife, Louise, have given $20 million to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to purchase American art. He gave $8 million to the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board before writing them out of his will, citing displeasure with fundamentalists. The 91-year-old trucking pioneer founded Overnite with a single truck in 1935 — he delivered everything from cigarettes to Ukrop's groceries. After selling Overnite to Union Pacific in 1986 for $1.2 billion, a merger that fared badly, Cochrane started Highway Express Inc. in 1991 at the age of 79. He founded that company, some say, largely to show Overnite how things should be done. He sold that company in the fall.
29. State Sen. John C. Watkins
State Sen. John C. Watkins is Chesterfield County's highest ranking politician, having served in the Virginia General Assembly for 22 years, first as a member of the House of Delegates from 1982 to 1998. A ranking Republican, Watkins has been a powerful figure in local politics and a key supporter of public transit. And his family sits on a key piece of developable land along Route 288 (it's slated for a shopping mall, among other things). Perhaps most important, Watkins has continued to call for more regional cooperation in a county where the politics are tinged with racism and many county residents still resent Richmond for annexing its easternmost corridor in 1970.
30. G. Gilmer Minor III
A former cadet at Virginia Military Institute, Gil Minor has mastered the art of survival as chief executive of Owens & Minor, a Richmond medical supply company. He resisted Wall Street's call to slash and burn after a near-fatal blow in May of 1998 — Columbia/HCA abruptly pulled $370 million worth of business — and managed to overcome a difficult merger with Stuart Medical in 1994. Since the late 1990s, the company has seen its stock rebound and sales triple, on the way to becoming one of the most efficient medical supply manufacturers in the country. Minor, ever the cadet, is known for his no-nonsense approach to business. He also serves on the boards of the Virginia Biotechnology Park and Richmond Renaissance.
31. Ivor Massey Jr. and Family
Ivor Massey made his millions in the stock market, then bequeathed the fortune to his son. Ivor Massey Jr. has alternately amassed huge sums and watched bits of them slip away. And whether through venture investments or goodwill giving, the family's money has made a mark on Richmond. Their personal involvement in the programs and institutions they support is paramount. Most notably, there's the internationally recognized Massey Cancer Center at VCU Health System. Also, Massey Jr. is president of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and is an appointee to the board of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
32. State Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert
"I remember telling my father in high school that I was going to be in the General Assembly one day," Lambert recalls, with his customary soft chuckle. He's worked in both chambers, first as a delegate and now as a senator. The optometrist and Democrat ranks fifth in seniority in the Senate, second when it comes to his place on the coveted and powerful finance committee. He also serves on the boards for student-loan agency Sallie Mae, Dominion Resources, Consolidated Bank and is secretary of the board of trustees for Virginia Union University. Lambert is best known for using his influence to make Richmond more inclusive. His wife, Carolyn, is from Niagra Falls. Together they've raised four community-minded children engaged in everything from city government to the new, hip Hyperlink Café. Lambert's favorite title, he says, is granddad — he has two young grandsons.
33. Daniel J. Ludeman
Daniel Ludeman was managing director of Richmond's most powerful brokerage of yesteryear, Wheat First Butcher Singer. His promotion to president and CEO of Wachovia Securities in 1999 has proven pivotal for Richmond. Carolina's Richmond hustle, in which Richmond lost Wheat First to Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union (now Wachovia), has actually helped the city. With Ludeman at the helm, Wachovia's purchase of Prudential Securities in July 2003 brought more than a thousand new jobs to Richmond, which is now on its way to becoming home to the country's third largest brokerage. Meanwhile, Richmond is re-establishing itself as a key financial hub in the South.
34. Beverley W. "Booty" Armstrong
Best known as co-owner of The Jefferson Hotel, Booty Armstrong, vice chairman of CCA Industries, is one of the area's most influential investors and civic leaders. Through his association with William H. Goodwin Jr. — he's Goodwin's most trusted partner — Armstrong is part owner of the West Creek business park in Goochland County, a former co-owner of AMF Bowling, and no-nonsense manager of numerous assets at CCA, including Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The straight-talking Armstrong is a more vocal political player than Goodwin and a key proponent behind the planned Virginia Performing Arts Center downtown. He's also an important voice at the influential Richmond Renaissance.
35. Robert F. Norfleet Jr.
Of the old Richmond banking guard, Robert Norfleet, a former corporate executive at Crestar Bank before the bank was purchased by SunTrust in the mid-1990s, has been an active voice and increasingly powerful player in local politics and civic boosterism. A regular op-ed page contributor to the Times-Dispatch, Norfleet has been at the forefront of the at-large mayor debate and the poster executive for Richmond's continuing identity crisis in the wake of North Carolina's big-bank takeover. He serves on numerous local boards and as chairman of the all-powerful Community Foundation, Richmond's nonprofit of nonprofits with more than $440 million in assets.
36. Thomas Bliley Jr.
Before Bliley, a former Republican U.S. representative, joined forces with a former Democratic governor to champion a referendum allowing for an at-large mayor, there were funerals. Bliley's father, Joseph W., grew Bliley Funeral Homes into a Richmond institution. Then Bliley, with his signature bow ties, was elected to Richmond City Council in 1968. Two years later, he became mayor. Next, he moved on to Washington, D.C. In his 10 House terms, he earned a reputation as one of its most powerful members, particularly on free-market enterprise issues and tobacco. Today, the retired Bliley may not play the game every day, as one friend puts it, but his recent partnership with Wilder shows he can still muster attention.
37. Thomas F. Farrell II
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
When he's not aglow from his newest role as granddad, Bobby Ukrop is busy making his rounds of the 29 stores that have made Ukrop's a household name in central Virginia. For 27 years he's held regular meetings of the company's new employees to hear feedback and pep them up. He's an avid soccer enthusiast and coach, and parlays his love of sports into his post as trustee of the University of Richmond and its athletic council. The president and chief executive of Ukrop's Super Markets — and younger brother to Jim — serves on the boards of the Science Museum of Virginia and the Greater Richmond Partnership.
18. Dr. Frank S. Royal
He may be known as a family physician, but Royal is one of the corporate world's most wanted. He's a board director for six publicly traded companies: Chesapeake Corp., CSX Corp., Dominion Resources Inc., HCA Inc., SunTrust Banks Inc. and most recently, Smithfield Foods. Royal also leads the board of trustees at his alma mater, Virginia Union University, which is tackling financial challenges and a leadership transition. One of his big goals is to ensure its future, he says, "that it be there for my grandchildren — and I have eight of those, ranging from 2 to 14."
19. William E. Cooper
He wants to turn the University of Richmond into an Ivy League-level school. Since Bill Cooper became president in 1998, he's done more than just shake up the small, but high-profile conservative university with Baptist roots. He nixed the health and sports science departments, eliminated the education graduate programs and began recruiting higher-profile faculty. He added sexual orientation to the university's nondiscrimination policy, which led the Virginia Baptist Mission Board to withdraw its funding and membership on the board of trustees. It seems to have had little effect, however, as UR now boasts an endowment of $1.1 billion, nearly $400 million more than before Cooper took the helm. This year, the university launched its largest capital campaign, with the goal of raising $200 million by 2008.
20. The Markel Family and Alan I. Kirshner
The family behind the $2.8 billion Markel Corp. is known for giving to the arts and supporting all things Richmond, including giving generously to the now-defunct Richmond Renegades. But the family is probably best-known for smart, no-frills business. The company's top three executives — Alan Kirshner and cousins Tony Markel and Steve Markel — each made a relatively modest $630,000 last year for a company that has remained extremely profitable over the years by insuring businesses that other under-writers tend to shy away from, such as taxicabs and health clubs.
21. Ralph L. "Bill" Axselle Jr.
Everybody calls him Bill because as a child his unbounded energy reminded his family of the legendary baseball-player-turned-evangelist Billy Sunday. Today, that zeal defines him in a way that is disarmingly unpretentious yet effective. He's a partner in the law firm Williams Mullen, and an active member of Second Baptist Church and was a 16-year member of the Virginia House of Delegates. What's on his mind most these days is Jamestown's quadricentennial and how to make the most of it. He's chairman of Richmond Region 2007 and is a member of its executive committee and board of directors. He's served on community boards and commissions under five governors. In 2003 he was re-appointed by Warner to the board of visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University. He's also on the boards of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the University of North Carolina. Born and raised in Glen Allen, Axselle is married to Anne Maiden Axselle, and they have three adult children.
22. State Sen. Walter A. Stosch
A nut for numbers and efficiency, State Sen. Walter Stosch is majority leader of the state Senate. After earning an accounting degree and an M.B.A. from the University of Richmond, he founded an accounting firm in 1961. Twelve years later, the firm merged with Deloitte & Touche, where he became a partner. Now Stosch runs a consulting firm that figures the value of businesses and works with corporate audit committees — in-demand services in today's corporate climate. This year, Stosch used an overhead projector to school some politicians about the state budget. Fortunately for Gov. Warner, Stosch broke away from his fellow Republicans, leading a gang of five to help bust the budget standoff. "We had several commitments that had to be met," he explains. Stosch works with the Community Foundation, and is a board director for Universal Corp.
23. Stanley F. Pauley
The Carpenter Co., which makes foam and fiber cushion products, is one of the largest private companies in Richmond. And Pauley, its chairman and chief executive, is at the helm of about 7,500 employees — about 500 in Richmond. A fellow power broker says Pauley is a businessman to be reckoned with, a man who can make things happen behind the scenes. The electrical engineer's educational reach is expansive, extending from the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus, to Hampden-Sydney College, where he is a past member of the board, to VCU, where he is a trustee for the School of Engineering Foundation. He and his wife, Dorothy, have given generously to local causes, most visibly the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Their $5 million gift last year helped launch the museum's now $150 million capital campaign.
24. Lt. Gov. Timothy Kaine
"Being lieutenant governor is a lot like being vice president," University of Virginia political pundit Larry Sabato told Style in 2003 for a cover story on Kaine. "Your job is to inquire after the health of the governor and position yourself to run for his job. His future depends greatly on how Warner does, and conditions couldn't be worse for Warner." Look what's developed since: a budget. Kaine pushed for a compromise, proving himself to be dexterous and savvy. The former Richmond mayor stretches statewide for educational reforms, open government and public safety. He serves on the Secure Virginia Panel (the state's anti-terrorism task force), Virginia's Military Advisory Council and is chairman of Virginia's Disability Commission. He is married to Anne Holton, a judge in Richmond's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, with whom he has three children. Next: He is the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor in 2005.
25. Former Gov. Gerald L. Baliles
As governor of Virginia from 1986 to 1990, Gerald Baliles established the state's first cabinet-level post for economic development and its first multiyear transportation improvement plan. He also helped create the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond. He looked to the future of central Virginia with equal degrees of optimism and concern. He does the same today, just out of the public eye. Yet he says his days have grown longer since becoming lead partner of the international practice group at the law firm Hunton & Williams. Baliles has become an expert on the airline industry, and he advises businesses and organizations on such wide-ranging issues as public policy, international relations and the environment. He plans to direct more of his attention to new road construction in the Richmond area before, he warns, there's no more public money to fund it. He's also a writer, editor and angler, going "wherever the fish are," he says. Baliles and his wife, Robin, live in Stratford Hills.
26. Del. Franklin P. Hall
An elder at First Presbyterian Church and a Democrat, Hall is minority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates. He's represented both Richmond and Chesterfield County constituents in the state's 69th District since 1976. For his seniority, he's received plum committee assignments: Appropriations; Rules; and Cities, Counties and Towns. In the 2004 session, he successfully sponsored a bill specifying how localities must disclose cash payments and expenditures. Hall serves as chairman of Commonwealth Bank and the Central Richmond Association. He is also on the boards of the Virginia Mental Health Association, Offender Aid and Restoration, and the Richmond Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.
27. Gordon F. Rainey Jr.
The chairman of Richmond's largest law firm, Hunton & Williams, Gordon Rainey oversees a powerhouse of intellectual capital. Rainey's specialty, corporate finance, reflects the personality of the firm, which has seen much of its corporate business — including big-bank headquarters — move elsewhere during the past decade and a half. The firm fields one of Philip Morris USA's legal teams — a portfolio builder — and has gained numerous Fortune 500 clients across the globe. It's just that Richmond isn't as relevant anymore. Yet Rainey, recently named rector of the University of Virginia's board of visitors, is on numerous corporate boards of directors locally and is a player in Richmond philanthropy.
28. J. Harwood Cochrane
The founder of Overnite Transportation is a local legend. Cochrane and his wife, Louise, have given $20 million to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to purchase American art. He gave $8 million to the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board before writing them out of his will, citing displeasure with fundamentalists. The 91-year-old trucking pioneer founded Overnite with a single truck in 1935 — he delivered everything from cigarettes to Ukrop's groceries. After selling Overnite to Union Pacific in 1986 for $1.2 billion, a merger that fared badly, Cochrane started Highway Express Inc. in 1991 at the age of 79. He founded that company, some say, largely to show Overnite how things should be done. He sold that company in the fall.
29. State Sen. John C. Watkins
State Sen. John C. Watkins is Chesterfield County's highest ranking politician, having served in the Virginia General Assembly for 22 years, first as a member of the House of Delegates from 1982 to 1998. A ranking Republican, Watkins has been a powerful figure in local politics and a key supporter of public transit. And his family sits on a key piece of developable land along Route 288 (it's slated for a shopping mall, among other things). Perhaps most important, Watkins has continued to call for more regional cooperation in a county where the politics are tinged with racism and many county residents still resent Richmond for annexing its easternmost corridor in 1970.
30. G. Gilmer Minor III
A former cadet at Virginia Military Institute, Gil Minor has mastered the art of survival as chief executive of Owens & Minor, a Richmond medical supply company. He resisted Wall Street's call to slash and burn after a near-fatal blow in May of 1998 — Columbia/HCA abruptly pulled $370 million worth of business — and managed to overcome a difficult merger with Stuart Medical in 1994. Since the late 1990s, the company has seen its stock rebound and sales triple, on the way to becoming one of the most efficient medical supply manufacturers in the country. Minor, ever the cadet, is known for his no-nonsense approach to business. He also serves on the boards of the Virginia Biotechnology Park and Richmond Renaissance.
31. Ivor Massey Jr. and Family
Ivor Massey made his millions in the stock market, then bequeathed the fortune to his son. Ivor Massey Jr. has alternately amassed huge sums and watched bits of them slip away. And whether through venture investments or goodwill giving, the family's money has made a mark on Richmond. Their personal involvement in the programs and institutions they support is paramount. Most notably, there's the internationally recognized Massey Cancer Center at VCU Health System. Also, Massey Jr. is president of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and is an appointee to the board of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
32. State Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert
"I remember telling my father in high school that I was going to be in the General Assembly one day," Lambert recalls, with his customary soft chuckle. He's worked in both chambers, first as a delegate and now as a senator. The optometrist and Democrat ranks fifth in seniority in the Senate, second when it comes to his place on the coveted and powerful finance committee. He also serves on the boards for student-loan agency Sallie Mae, Dominion Resources, Consolidated Bank and is secretary of the board of trustees for Virginia Union University. Lambert is best known for using his influence to make Richmond more inclusive. His wife, Carolyn, is from Niagra Falls. Together they've raised four community-minded children engaged in everything from city government to the new, hip Hyperlink Café. Lambert's favorite title, he says, is granddad — he has two young grandsons.
33. Daniel J. Ludeman
Daniel Ludeman was managing director of Richmond's most powerful brokerage of yesteryear, Wheat First Butcher Singer. His promotion to president and CEO of Wachovia Securities in 1999 has proven pivotal for Richmond. Carolina's Richmond hustle, in which Richmond lost Wheat First to Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union (now Wachovia), has actually helped the city. With Ludeman at the helm, Wachovia's purchase of Prudential Securities in July 2003 brought more than a thousand new jobs to Richmond, which is now on its way to becoming home to the country's third largest brokerage. Meanwhile, Richmond is re-establishing itself as a key financial hub in the South.
34. Beverley W. "Booty" Armstrong
Best known as co-owner of The Jefferson Hotel, Booty Armstrong, vice chairman of CCA Industries, is one of the area's most influential investors and civic leaders. Through his association with William H. Goodwin Jr. — he's Goodwin's most trusted partner — Armstrong is part owner of the West Creek business park in Goochland County, a former co-owner of AMF Bowling, and no-nonsense manager of numerous assets at CCA, including Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The straight-talking Armstrong is a more vocal political player than Goodwin and a key proponent behind the planned Virginia Performing Arts Center downtown. He's also an important voice at the influential Richmond Renaissance.
35. Robert F. Norfleet Jr.
Of the old Richmond banking guard, Robert Norfleet, a former corporate executive at Crestar Bank before the bank was purchased by SunTrust in the mid-1990s, has been an active voice and increasingly powerful player in local politics and civic boosterism. A regular op-ed page contributor to the Times-Dispatch, Norfleet has been at the forefront of the at-large mayor debate and the poster executive for Richmond's continuing identity crisis in the wake of North Carolina's big-bank takeover. He serves on numerous local boards and as chairman of the all-powerful Community Foundation, Richmond's nonprofit of nonprofits with more than $440 million in assets.
36. Thomas Bliley Jr.
Before Bliley, a former Republican U.S. representative, joined forces with a former Democratic governor to champion a referendum allowing for an at-large mayor, there were funerals. Bliley's father, Joseph W., grew Bliley Funeral Homes into a Richmond institution. Then Bliley, with his signature bow ties, was elected to Richmond City Council in 1968. Two years later, he became mayor. Next, he moved on to Washington, D.C. In his 10 House terms, he earned a reputation as one of its most powerful members, particularly on free-market enterprise issues and tobacco. Today, the retired Bliley may not play the game every day, as one friend puts it, but his recent partnership with Wilder shows he can still muster attention.
37. Thomas F. Farrell II
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
He wants to turn the University of Richmond into an Ivy League-level school. Since Bill Cooper became president in 1998, he's done more than just shake up the small, but high-profile conservative university with Baptist roots. He nixed the health and sports science departments, eliminated the education graduate programs and began recruiting higher-profile faculty. He added sexual orientation to the university's nondiscrimination policy, which led the Virginia Baptist Mission Board to withdraw its funding and membership on the board of trustees. It seems to have had little effect, however, as UR now boasts an endowment of $1.1 billion, nearly $400 million more than before Cooper took the helm. This year, the university launched its largest capital campaign, with the goal of raising $200 million by 2008.
20. The Markel Family and Alan I. Kirshner
The family behind the $2.8 billion Markel Corp. is known for giving to the arts and supporting all things Richmond, including giving generously to the now-defunct Richmond Renegades. But the family is probably best-known for smart, no-frills business. The company's top three executives — Alan Kirshner and cousins Tony Markel and Steve Markel — each made a relatively modest $630,000 last year for a company that has remained extremely profitable over the years by insuring businesses that other under-writers tend to shy away from, such as taxicabs and health clubs.
21. Ralph L. "Bill" Axselle Jr.
Everybody calls him Bill because as a child his unbounded energy reminded his family of the legendary baseball-player-turned-evangelist Billy Sunday. Today, that zeal defines him in a way that is disarmingly unpretentious yet effective. He's a partner in the law firm Williams Mullen, and an active member of Second Baptist Church and was a 16-year member of the Virginia House of Delegates. What's on his mind most these days is Jamestown's quadricentennial and how to make the most of it. He's chairman of Richmond Region 2007 and is a member of its executive committee and board of directors. He's served on community boards and commissions under five governors. In 2003 he was re-appointed by Warner to the board of visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University. He's also on the boards of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the University of North Carolina. Born and raised in Glen Allen, Axselle is married to Anne Maiden Axselle, and they have three adult children.
22. State Sen. Walter A. Stosch
A nut for numbers and efficiency, State Sen. Walter Stosch is majority leader of the state Senate. After earning an accounting degree and an M.B.A. from the University of Richmond, he founded an accounting firm in 1961. Twelve years later, the firm merged with Deloitte & Touche, where he became a partner. Now Stosch runs a consulting firm that figures the value of businesses and works with corporate audit committees — in-demand services in today's corporate climate. This year, Stosch used an overhead projector to school some politicians about the state budget. Fortunately for Gov. Warner, Stosch broke away from his fellow Republicans, leading a gang of five to help bust the budget standoff. "We had several commitments that had to be met," he explains. Stosch works with the Community Foundation, and is a board director for Universal Corp.
23. Stanley F. Pauley
The Carpenter Co., which makes foam and fiber cushion products, is one of the largest private companies in Richmond. And Pauley, its chairman and chief executive, is at the helm of about 7,500 employees — about 500 in Richmond. A fellow power broker says Pauley is a businessman to be reckoned with, a man who can make things happen behind the scenes. The electrical engineer's educational reach is expansive, extending from the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus, to Hampden-Sydney College, where he is a past member of the board, to VCU, where he is a trustee for the School of Engineering Foundation. He and his wife, Dorothy, have given generously to local causes, most visibly the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Their $5 million gift last year helped launch the museum's now $150 million capital campaign.
24. Lt. Gov. Timothy Kaine
"Being lieutenant governor is a lot like being vice president," University of Virginia political pundit Larry Sabato told Style in 2003 for a cover story on Kaine. "Your job is to inquire after the health of the governor and position yourself to run for his job. His future depends greatly on how Warner does, and conditions couldn't be worse for Warner." Look what's developed since: a budget. Kaine pushed for a compromise, proving himself to be dexterous and savvy. The former Richmond mayor stretches statewide for educational reforms, open government and public safety. He serves on the Secure Virginia Panel (the state's anti-terrorism task force), Virginia's Military Advisory Council and is chairman of Virginia's Disability Commission. He is married to Anne Holton, a judge in Richmond's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, with whom he has three children. Next: He is the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor in 2005.
25. Former Gov. Gerald L. Baliles
As governor of Virginia from 1986 to 1990, Gerald Baliles established the state's first cabinet-level post for economic development and its first multiyear transportation improvement plan. He also helped create the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond. He looked to the future of central Virginia with equal degrees of optimism and concern. He does the same today, just out of the public eye. Yet he says his days have grown longer since becoming lead partner of the international practice group at the law firm Hunton & Williams. Baliles has become an expert on the airline industry, and he advises businesses and organizations on such wide-ranging issues as public policy, international relations and the environment. He plans to direct more of his attention to new road construction in the Richmond area before, he warns, there's no more public money to fund it. He's also a writer, editor and angler, going "wherever the fish are," he says. Baliles and his wife, Robin, live in Stratford Hills.
26. Del. Franklin P. Hall
An elder at First Presbyterian Church and a Democrat, Hall is minority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates. He's represented both Richmond and Chesterfield County constituents in the state's 69th District since 1976. For his seniority, he's received plum committee assignments: Appropriations; Rules; and Cities, Counties and Towns. In the 2004 session, he successfully sponsored a bill specifying how localities must disclose cash payments and expenditures. Hall serves as chairman of Commonwealth Bank and the Central Richmond Association. He is also on the boards of the Virginia Mental Health Association, Offender Aid and Restoration, and the Richmond Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.
27. Gordon F. Rainey Jr.
The chairman of Richmond's largest law firm, Hunton & Williams, Gordon Rainey oversees a powerhouse of intellectual capital. Rainey's specialty, corporate finance, reflects the personality of the firm, which has seen much of its corporate business — including big-bank headquarters — move elsewhere during the past decade and a half. The firm fields one of Philip Morris USA's legal teams — a portfolio builder — and has gained numerous Fortune 500 clients across the globe. It's just that Richmond isn't as relevant anymore. Yet Rainey, recently named rector of the University of Virginia's board of visitors, is on numerous corporate boards of directors locally and is a player in Richmond philanthropy.
28. J. Harwood Cochrane
The founder of Overnite Transportation is a local legend. Cochrane and his wife, Louise, have given $20 million to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to purchase American art. He gave $8 million to the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board before writing them out of his will, citing displeasure with fundamentalists. The 91-year-old trucking pioneer founded Overnite with a single truck in 1935 — he delivered everything from cigarettes to Ukrop's groceries. After selling Overnite to Union Pacific in 1986 for $1.2 billion, a merger that fared badly, Cochrane started Highway Express Inc. in 1991 at the age of 79. He founded that company, some say, largely to show Overnite how things should be done. He sold that company in the fall.
29. State Sen. John C. Watkins
State Sen. John C. Watkins is Chesterfield County's highest ranking politician, having served in the Virginia General Assembly for 22 years, first as a member of the House of Delegates from 1982 to 1998. A ranking Republican, Watkins has been a powerful figure in local politics and a key supporter of public transit. And his family sits on a key piece of developable land along Route 288 (it's slated for a shopping mall, among other things). Perhaps most important, Watkins has continued to call for more regional cooperation in a county where the politics are tinged with racism and many county residents still resent Richmond for annexing its easternmost corridor in 1970.
30. G. Gilmer Minor III
A former cadet at Virginia Military Institute, Gil Minor has mastered the art of survival as chief executive of Owens & Minor, a Richmond medical supply company. He resisted Wall Street's call to slash and burn after a near-fatal blow in May of 1998 — Columbia/HCA abruptly pulled $370 million worth of business — and managed to overcome a difficult merger with Stuart Medical in 1994. Since the late 1990s, the company has seen its stock rebound and sales triple, on the way to becoming one of the most efficient medical supply manufacturers in the country. Minor, ever the cadet, is known for his no-nonsense approach to business. He also serves on the boards of the Virginia Biotechnology Park and Richmond Renaissance.
31. Ivor Massey Jr. and Family
Ivor Massey made his millions in the stock market, then bequeathed the fortune to his son. Ivor Massey Jr. has alternately amassed huge sums and watched bits of them slip away. And whether through venture investments or goodwill giving, the family's money has made a mark on Richmond. Their personal involvement in the programs and institutions they support is paramount. Most notably, there's the internationally recognized Massey Cancer Center at VCU Health System. Also, Massey Jr. is president of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and is an appointee to the board of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
32. State Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert
"I remember telling my father in high school that I was going to be in the General Assembly one day," Lambert recalls, with his customary soft chuckle. He's worked in both chambers, first as a delegate and now as a senator. The optometrist and Democrat ranks fifth in seniority in the Senate, second when it comes to his place on the coveted and powerful finance committee. He also serves on the boards for student-loan agency Sallie Mae, Dominion Resources, Consolidated Bank and is secretary of the board of trustees for Virginia Union University. Lambert is best known for using his influence to make Richmond more inclusive. His wife, Carolyn, is from Niagra Falls. Together they've raised four community-minded children engaged in everything from city government to the new, hip Hyperlink Café. Lambert's favorite title, he says, is granddad — he has two young grandsons.
33. Daniel J. Ludeman
Daniel Ludeman was managing director of Richmond's most powerful brokerage of yesteryear, Wheat First Butcher Singer. His promotion to president and CEO of Wachovia Securities in 1999 has proven pivotal for Richmond. Carolina's Richmond hustle, in which Richmond lost Wheat First to Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union (now Wachovia), has actually helped the city. With Ludeman at the helm, Wachovia's purchase of Prudential Securities in July 2003 brought more than a thousand new jobs to Richmond, which is now on its way to becoming home to the country's third largest brokerage. Meanwhile, Richmond is re-establishing itself as a key financial hub in the South.
34. Beverley W. "Booty" Armstrong
Best known as co-owner of The Jefferson Hotel, Booty Armstrong, vice chairman of CCA Industries, is one of the area's most influential investors and civic leaders. Through his association with William H. Goodwin Jr. — he's Goodwin's most trusted partner — Armstrong is part owner of the West Creek business park in Goochland County, a former co-owner of AMF Bowling, and no-nonsense manager of numerous assets at CCA, including Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The straight-talking Armstrong is a more vocal political player than Goodwin and a key proponent behind the planned Virginia Performing Arts Center downtown. He's also an important voice at the influential Richmond Renaissance.
35. Robert F. Norfleet Jr.
Of the old Richmond banking guard, Robert Norfleet, a former corporate executive at Crestar Bank before the bank was purchased by SunTrust in the mid-1990s, has been an active voice and increasingly powerful player in local politics and civic boosterism. A regular op-ed page contributor to the Times-Dispatch, Norfleet has been at the forefront of the at-large mayor debate and the poster executive for Richmond's continuing identity crisis in the wake of North Carolina's big-bank takeover. He serves on numerous local boards and as chairman of the all-powerful Community Foundation, Richmond's nonprofit of nonprofits with more than $440 million in assets.
36. Thomas Bliley Jr.
Before Bliley, a former Republican U.S. representative, joined forces with a former Democratic governor to champion a referendum allowing for an at-large mayor, there were funerals. Bliley's father, Joseph W., grew Bliley Funeral Homes into a Richmond institution. Then Bliley, with his signature bow ties, was elected to Richmond City Council in 1968. Two years later, he became mayor. Next, he moved on to Washington, D.C. In his 10 House terms, he earned a reputation as one of its most powerful members, particularly on free-market enterprise issues and tobacco. Today, the retired Bliley may not play the game every day, as one friend puts it, but his recent partnership with Wilder shows he can still muster attention.
37. Thomas F. Farrell II
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
Everybody calls him Bill because as a child his unbounded energy reminded his family of the legendary baseball-player-turned-evangelist Billy Sunday. Today, that zeal defines him in a way that is disarmingly unpretentious yet effective. He's a partner in the law firm Williams Mullen, and an active member of Second Baptist Church and was a 16-year member of the Virginia House of Delegates. What's on his mind most these days is Jamestown's quadricentennial and how to make the most of it. He's chairman of Richmond Region 2007 and is a member of its executive committee and board of directors. He's served on community boards and commissions under five governors. In 2003 he was re-appointed by Warner to the board of visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University. He's also on the boards of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the University of North Carolina. Born and raised in Glen Allen, Axselle is married to Anne Maiden Axselle, and they have three adult children.
22. State Sen. Walter A. Stosch
A nut for numbers and efficiency, State Sen. Walter Stosch is majority leader of the state Senate. After earning an accounting degree and an M.B.A. from the University of Richmond, he founded an accounting firm in 1961. Twelve years later, the firm merged with Deloitte & Touche, where he became a partner. Now Stosch runs a consulting firm that figures the value of businesses and works with corporate audit committees — in-demand services in today's corporate climate. This year, Stosch used an overhead projector to school some politicians about the state budget. Fortunately for Gov. Warner, Stosch broke away from his fellow Republicans, leading a gang of five to help bust the budget standoff. "We had several commitments that had to be met," he explains. Stosch works with the Community Foundation, and is a board director for Universal Corp.
23. Stanley F. Pauley
The Carpenter Co., which makes foam and fiber cushion products, is one of the largest private companies in Richmond. And Pauley, its chairman and chief executive, is at the helm of about 7,500 employees — about 500 in Richmond. A fellow power broker says Pauley is a businessman to be reckoned with, a man who can make things happen behind the scenes. The electrical engineer's educational reach is expansive, extending from the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus, to Hampden-Sydney College, where he is a past member of the board, to VCU, where he is a trustee for the School of Engineering Foundation. He and his wife, Dorothy, have given generously to local causes, most visibly the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Their $5 million gift last year helped launch the museum's now $150 million capital campaign.
24. Lt. Gov. Timothy Kaine
"Being lieutenant governor is a lot like being vice president," University of Virginia political pundit Larry Sabato told Style in 2003 for a cover story on Kaine. "Your job is to inquire after the health of the governor and position yourself to run for his job. His future depends greatly on how Warner does, and conditions couldn't be worse for Warner." Look what's developed since: a budget. Kaine pushed for a compromise, proving himself to be dexterous and savvy. The former Richmond mayor stretches statewide for educational reforms, open government and public safety. He serves on the Secure Virginia Panel (the state's anti-terrorism task force), Virginia's Military Advisory Council and is chairman of Virginia's Disability Commission. He is married to Anne Holton, a judge in Richmond's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, with whom he has three children. Next: He is the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor in 2005.
25. Former Gov. Gerald L. Baliles
As governor of Virginia from 1986 to 1990, Gerald Baliles established the state's first cabinet-level post for economic development and its first multiyear transportation improvement plan. He also helped create the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond. He looked to the future of central Virginia with equal degrees of optimism and concern. He does the same today, just out of the public eye. Yet he says his days have grown longer since becoming lead partner of the international practice group at the law firm Hunton & Williams. Baliles has become an expert on the airline industry, and he advises businesses and organizations on such wide-ranging issues as public policy, international relations and the environment. He plans to direct more of his attention to new road construction in the Richmond area before, he warns, there's no more public money to fund it. He's also a writer, editor and angler, going "wherever the fish are," he says. Baliles and his wife, Robin, live in Stratford Hills.
26. Del. Franklin P. Hall
An elder at First Presbyterian Church and a Democrat, Hall is minority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates. He's represented both Richmond and Chesterfield County constituents in the state's 69th District since 1976. For his seniority, he's received plum committee assignments: Appropriations; Rules; and Cities, Counties and Towns. In the 2004 session, he successfully sponsored a bill specifying how localities must disclose cash payments and expenditures. Hall serves as chairman of Commonwealth Bank and the Central Richmond Association. He is also on the boards of the Virginia Mental Health Association, Offender Aid and Restoration, and the Richmond Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.
27. Gordon F. Rainey Jr.
The chairman of Richmond's largest law firm, Hunton & Williams, Gordon Rainey oversees a powerhouse of intellectual capital. Rainey's specialty, corporate finance, reflects the personality of the firm, which has seen much of its corporate business — including big-bank headquarters — move elsewhere during the past decade and a half. The firm fields one of Philip Morris USA's legal teams — a portfolio builder — and has gained numerous Fortune 500 clients across the globe. It's just that Richmond isn't as relevant anymore. Yet Rainey, recently named rector of the University of Virginia's board of visitors, is on numerous corporate boards of directors locally and is a player in Richmond philanthropy.
28. J. Harwood Cochrane
The founder of Overnite Transportation is a local legend. Cochrane and his wife, Louise, have given $20 million to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to purchase American art. He gave $8 million to the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board before writing them out of his will, citing displeasure with fundamentalists. The 91-year-old trucking pioneer founded Overnite with a single truck in 1935 — he delivered everything from cigarettes to Ukrop's groceries. After selling Overnite to Union Pacific in 1986 for $1.2 billion, a merger that fared badly, Cochrane started Highway Express Inc. in 1991 at the age of 79. He founded that company, some say, largely to show Overnite how things should be done. He sold that company in the fall.
29. State Sen. John C. Watkins
State Sen. John C. Watkins is Chesterfield County's highest ranking politician, having served in the Virginia General Assembly for 22 years, first as a member of the House of Delegates from 1982 to 1998. A ranking Republican, Watkins has been a powerful figure in local politics and a key supporter of public transit. And his family sits on a key piece of developable land along Route 288 (it's slated for a shopping mall, among other things). Perhaps most important, Watkins has continued to call for more regional cooperation in a county where the politics are tinged with racism and many county residents still resent Richmond for annexing its easternmost corridor in 1970.
30. G. Gilmer Minor III
A former cadet at Virginia Military Institute, Gil Minor has mastered the art of survival as chief executive of Owens & Minor, a Richmond medical supply company. He resisted Wall Street's call to slash and burn after a near-fatal blow in May of 1998 — Columbia/HCA abruptly pulled $370 million worth of business — and managed to overcome a difficult merger with Stuart Medical in 1994. Since the late 1990s, the company has seen its stock rebound and sales triple, on the way to becoming one of the most efficient medical supply manufacturers in the country. Minor, ever the cadet, is known for his no-nonsense approach to business. He also serves on the boards of the Virginia Biotechnology Park and Richmond Renaissance.
31. Ivor Massey Jr. and Family
Ivor Massey made his millions in the stock market, then bequeathed the fortune to his son. Ivor Massey Jr. has alternately amassed huge sums and watched bits of them slip away. And whether through venture investments or goodwill giving, the family's money has made a mark on Richmond. Their personal involvement in the programs and institutions they support is paramount. Most notably, there's the internationally recognized Massey Cancer Center at VCU Health System. Also, Massey Jr. is president of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and is an appointee to the board of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
32. State Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert
"I remember telling my father in high school that I was going to be in the General Assembly one day," Lambert recalls, with his customary soft chuckle. He's worked in both chambers, first as a delegate and now as a senator. The optometrist and Democrat ranks fifth in seniority in the Senate, second when it comes to his place on the coveted and powerful finance committee. He also serves on the boards for student-loan agency Sallie Mae, Dominion Resources, Consolidated Bank and is secretary of the board of trustees for Virginia Union University. Lambert is best known for using his influence to make Richmond more inclusive. His wife, Carolyn, is from Niagra Falls. Together they've raised four community-minded children engaged in everything from city government to the new, hip Hyperlink Café. Lambert's favorite title, he says, is granddad — he has two young grandsons.
33. Daniel J. Ludeman
Daniel Ludeman was managing director of Richmond's most powerful brokerage of yesteryear, Wheat First Butcher Singer. His promotion to president and CEO of Wachovia Securities in 1999 has proven pivotal for Richmond. Carolina's Richmond hustle, in which Richmond lost Wheat First to Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union (now Wachovia), has actually helped the city. With Ludeman at the helm, Wachovia's purchase of Prudential Securities in July 2003 brought more than a thousand new jobs to Richmond, which is now on its way to becoming home to the country's third largest brokerage. Meanwhile, Richmond is re-establishing itself as a key financial hub in the South.
34. Beverley W. "Booty" Armstrong
Best known as co-owner of The Jefferson Hotel, Booty Armstrong, vice chairman of CCA Industries, is one of the area's most influential investors and civic leaders. Through his association with William H. Goodwin Jr. — he's Goodwin's most trusted partner — Armstrong is part owner of the West Creek business park in Goochland County, a former co-owner of AMF Bowling, and no-nonsense manager of numerous assets at CCA, including Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The straight-talking Armstrong is a more vocal political player than Goodwin and a key proponent behind the planned Virginia Performing Arts Center downtown. He's also an important voice at the influential Richmond Renaissance.
35. Robert F. Norfleet Jr.
Of the old Richmond banking guard, Robert Norfleet, a former corporate executive at Crestar Bank before the bank was purchased by SunTrust in the mid-1990s, has been an active voice and increasingly powerful player in local politics and civic boosterism. A regular op-ed page contributor to the Times-Dispatch, Norfleet has been at the forefront of the at-large mayor debate and the poster executive for Richmond's continuing identity crisis in the wake of North Carolina's big-bank takeover. He serves on numerous local boards and as chairman of the all-powerful Community Foundation, Richmond's nonprofit of nonprofits with more than $440 million in assets.
36. Thomas Bliley Jr.
Before Bliley, a former Republican U.S. representative, joined forces with a former Democratic governor to champion a referendum allowing for an at-large mayor, there were funerals. Bliley's father, Joseph W., grew Bliley Funeral Homes into a Richmond institution. Then Bliley, with his signature bow ties, was elected to Richmond City Council in 1968. Two years later, he became mayor. Next, he moved on to Washington, D.C. In his 10 House terms, he earned a reputation as one of its most powerful members, particularly on free-market enterprise issues and tobacco. Today, the retired Bliley may not play the game every day, as one friend puts it, but his recent partnership with Wilder shows he can still muster attention.
37. Thomas F. Farrell II
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
The Carpenter Co., which makes foam and fiber cushion products, is one of the largest private companies in Richmond. And Pauley, its chairman and chief executive, is at the helm of about 7,500 employees — about 500 in Richmond. A fellow power broker says Pauley is a businessman to be reckoned with, a man who can make things happen behind the scenes. The electrical engineer's educational reach is expansive, extending from the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus, to Hampden-Sydney College, where he is a past member of the board, to VCU, where he is a trustee for the School of Engineering Foundation. He and his wife, Dorothy, have given generously to local causes, most visibly the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Their $5 million gift last year helped launch the museum's now $150 million capital campaign.
24. Lt. Gov. Timothy Kaine
"Being lieutenant governor is a lot like being vice president," University of Virginia political pundit Larry Sabato told Style in 2003 for a cover story on Kaine. "Your job is to inquire after the health of the governor and position yourself to run for his job. His future depends greatly on how Warner does, and conditions couldn't be worse for Warner." Look what's developed since: a budget. Kaine pushed for a compromise, proving himself to be dexterous and savvy. The former Richmond mayor stretches statewide for educational reforms, open government and public safety. He serves on the Secure Virginia Panel (the state's anti-terrorism task force), Virginia's Military Advisory Council and is chairman of Virginia's Disability Commission. He is married to Anne Holton, a judge in Richmond's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, with whom he has three children. Next: He is the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor in 2005.
25. Former Gov. Gerald L. Baliles
As governor of Virginia from 1986 to 1990, Gerald Baliles established the state's first cabinet-level post for economic development and its first multiyear transportation improvement plan. He also helped create the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond. He looked to the future of central Virginia with equal degrees of optimism and concern. He does the same today, just out of the public eye. Yet he says his days have grown longer since becoming lead partner of the international practice group at the law firm Hunton & Williams. Baliles has become an expert on the airline industry, and he advises businesses and organizations on such wide-ranging issues as public policy, international relations and the environment. He plans to direct more of his attention to new road construction in the Richmond area before, he warns, there's no more public money to fund it. He's also a writer, editor and angler, going "wherever the fish are," he says. Baliles and his wife, Robin, live in Stratford Hills.
26. Del. Franklin P. Hall
An elder at First Presbyterian Church and a Democrat, Hall is minority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates. He's represented both Richmond and Chesterfield County constituents in the state's 69th District since 1976. For his seniority, he's received plum committee assignments: Appropriations; Rules; and Cities, Counties and Towns. In the 2004 session, he successfully sponsored a bill specifying how localities must disclose cash payments and expenditures. Hall serves as chairman of Commonwealth Bank and the Central Richmond Association. He is also on the boards of the Virginia Mental Health Association, Offender Aid and Restoration, and the Richmond Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.
27. Gordon F. Rainey Jr.
The chairman of Richmond's largest law firm, Hunton & Williams, Gordon Rainey oversees a powerhouse of intellectual capital. Rainey's specialty, corporate finance, reflects the personality of the firm, which has seen much of its corporate business — including big-bank headquarters — move elsewhere during the past decade and a half. The firm fields one of Philip Morris USA's legal teams — a portfolio builder — and has gained numerous Fortune 500 clients across the globe. It's just that Richmond isn't as relevant anymore. Yet Rainey, recently named rector of the University of Virginia's board of visitors, is on numerous corporate boards of directors locally and is a player in Richmond philanthropy.
28. J. Harwood Cochrane
The founder of Overnite Transportation is a local legend. Cochrane and his wife, Louise, have given $20 million to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to purchase American art. He gave $8 million to the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board before writing them out of his will, citing displeasure with fundamentalists. The 91-year-old trucking pioneer founded Overnite with a single truck in 1935 — he delivered everything from cigarettes to Ukrop's groceries. After selling Overnite to Union Pacific in 1986 for $1.2 billion, a merger that fared badly, Cochrane started Highway Express Inc. in 1991 at the age of 79. He founded that company, some say, largely to show Overnite how things should be done. He sold that company in the fall.
29. State Sen. John C. Watkins
State Sen. John C. Watkins is Chesterfield County's highest ranking politician, having served in the Virginia General Assembly for 22 years, first as a member of the House of Delegates from 1982 to 1998. A ranking Republican, Watkins has been a powerful figure in local politics and a key supporter of public transit. And his family sits on a key piece of developable land along Route 288 (it's slated for a shopping mall, among other things). Perhaps most important, Watkins has continued to call for more regional cooperation in a county where the politics are tinged with racism and many county residents still resent Richmond for annexing its easternmost corridor in 1970.
30. G. Gilmer Minor III
A former cadet at Virginia Military Institute, Gil Minor has mastered the art of survival as chief executive of Owens & Minor, a Richmond medical supply company. He resisted Wall Street's call to slash and burn after a near-fatal blow in May of 1998 — Columbia/HCA abruptly pulled $370 million worth of business — and managed to overcome a difficult merger with Stuart Medical in 1994. Since the late 1990s, the company has seen its stock rebound and sales triple, on the way to becoming one of the most efficient medical supply manufacturers in the country. Minor, ever the cadet, is known for his no-nonsense approach to business. He also serves on the boards of the Virginia Biotechnology Park and Richmond Renaissance.
31. Ivor Massey Jr. and Family
Ivor Massey made his millions in the stock market, then bequeathed the fortune to his son. Ivor Massey Jr. has alternately amassed huge sums and watched bits of them slip away. And whether through venture investments or goodwill giving, the family's money has made a mark on Richmond. Their personal involvement in the programs and institutions they support is paramount. Most notably, there's the internationally recognized Massey Cancer Center at VCU Health System. Also, Massey Jr. is president of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and is an appointee to the board of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
32. State Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert
"I remember telling my father in high school that I was going to be in the General Assembly one day," Lambert recalls, with his customary soft chuckle. He's worked in both chambers, first as a delegate and now as a senator. The optometrist and Democrat ranks fifth in seniority in the Senate, second when it comes to his place on the coveted and powerful finance committee. He also serves on the boards for student-loan agency Sallie Mae, Dominion Resources, Consolidated Bank and is secretary of the board of trustees for Virginia Union University. Lambert is best known for using his influence to make Richmond more inclusive. His wife, Carolyn, is from Niagra Falls. Together they've raised four community-minded children engaged in everything from city government to the new, hip Hyperlink Café. Lambert's favorite title, he says, is granddad — he has two young grandsons.
33. Daniel J. Ludeman
Daniel Ludeman was managing director of Richmond's most powerful brokerage of yesteryear, Wheat First Butcher Singer. His promotion to president and CEO of Wachovia Securities in 1999 has proven pivotal for Richmond. Carolina's Richmond hustle, in which Richmond lost Wheat First to Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union (now Wachovia), has actually helped the city. With Ludeman at the helm, Wachovia's purchase of Prudential Securities in July 2003 brought more than a thousand new jobs to Richmond, which is now on its way to becoming home to the country's third largest brokerage. Meanwhile, Richmond is re-establishing itself as a key financial hub in the South.
34. Beverley W. "Booty" Armstrong
Best known as co-owner of The Jefferson Hotel, Booty Armstrong, vice chairman of CCA Industries, is one of the area's most influential investors and civic leaders. Through his association with William H. Goodwin Jr. — he's Goodwin's most trusted partner — Armstrong is part owner of the West Creek business park in Goochland County, a former co-owner of AMF Bowling, and no-nonsense manager of numerous assets at CCA, including Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The straight-talking Armstrong is a more vocal political player than Goodwin and a key proponent behind the planned Virginia Performing Arts Center downtown. He's also an important voice at the influential Richmond Renaissance.
35. Robert F. Norfleet Jr.
Of the old Richmond banking guard, Robert Norfleet, a former corporate executive at Crestar Bank before the bank was purchased by SunTrust in the mid-1990s, has been an active voice and increasingly powerful player in local politics and civic boosterism. A regular op-ed page contributor to the Times-Dispatch, Norfleet has been at the forefront of the at-large mayor debate and the poster executive for Richmond's continuing identity crisis in the wake of North Carolina's big-bank takeover. He serves on numerous local boards and as chairman of the all-powerful Community Foundation, Richmond's nonprofit of nonprofits with more than $440 million in assets.
36. Thomas Bliley Jr.
Before Bliley, a former Republican U.S. representative, joined forces with a former Democratic governor to champion a referendum allowing for an at-large mayor, there were funerals. Bliley's father, Joseph W., grew Bliley Funeral Homes into a Richmond institution. Then Bliley, with his signature bow ties, was elected to Richmond City Council in 1968. Two years later, he became mayor. Next, he moved on to Washington, D.C. In his 10 House terms, he earned a reputation as one of its most powerful members, particularly on free-market enterprise issues and tobacco. Today, the retired Bliley may not play the game every day, as one friend puts it, but his recent partnership with Wilder shows he can still muster attention.
37. Thomas F. Farrell II
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
As governor of Virginia from 1986 to 1990, Gerald Baliles established the state's first cabinet-level post for economic development and its first multiyear transportation improvement plan. He also helped create the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond. He looked to the future of central Virginia with equal degrees of optimism and concern. He does the same today, just out of the public eye. Yet he says his days have grown longer since becoming lead partner of the international practice group at the law firm Hunton & Williams. Baliles has become an expert on the airline industry, and he advises businesses and organizations on such wide-ranging issues as public policy, international relations and the environment. He plans to direct more of his attention to new road construction in the Richmond area before, he warns, there's no more public money to fund it. He's also a writer, editor and angler, going "wherever the fish are," he says. Baliles and his wife, Robin, live in Stratford Hills.
26. Del. Franklin P. Hall
An elder at First Presbyterian Church and a Democrat, Hall is minority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates. He's represented both Richmond and Chesterfield County constituents in the state's 69th District since 1976. For his seniority, he's received plum committee assignments: Appropriations; Rules; and Cities, Counties and Towns. In the 2004 session, he successfully sponsored a bill specifying how localities must disclose cash payments and expenditures. Hall serves as chairman of Commonwealth Bank and the Central Richmond Association. He is also on the boards of the Virginia Mental Health Association, Offender Aid and Restoration, and the Richmond Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.
27. Gordon F. Rainey Jr.
The chairman of Richmond's largest law firm, Hunton & Williams, Gordon Rainey oversees a powerhouse of intellectual capital. Rainey's specialty, corporate finance, reflects the personality of the firm, which has seen much of its corporate business — including big-bank headquarters — move elsewhere during the past decade and a half. The firm fields one of Philip Morris USA's legal teams — a portfolio builder — and has gained numerous Fortune 500 clients across the globe. It's just that Richmond isn't as relevant anymore. Yet Rainey, recently named rector of the University of Virginia's board of visitors, is on numerous corporate boards of directors locally and is a player in Richmond philanthropy.
28. J. Harwood Cochrane
The founder of Overnite Transportation is a local legend. Cochrane and his wife, Louise, have given $20 million to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to purchase American art. He gave $8 million to the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board before writing them out of his will, citing displeasure with fundamentalists. The 91-year-old trucking pioneer founded Overnite with a single truck in 1935 — he delivered everything from cigarettes to Ukrop's groceries. After selling Overnite to Union Pacific in 1986 for $1.2 billion, a merger that fared badly, Cochrane started Highway Express Inc. in 1991 at the age of 79. He founded that company, some say, largely to show Overnite how things should be done. He sold that company in the fall.
29. State Sen. John C. Watkins
State Sen. John C. Watkins is Chesterfield County's highest ranking politician, having served in the Virginia General Assembly for 22 years, first as a member of the House of Delegates from 1982 to 1998. A ranking Republican, Watkins has been a powerful figure in local politics and a key supporter of public transit. And his family sits on a key piece of developable land along Route 288 (it's slated for a shopping mall, among other things). Perhaps most important, Watkins has continued to call for more regional cooperation in a county where the politics are tinged with racism and many county residents still resent Richmond for annexing its easternmost corridor in 1970.
30. G. Gilmer Minor III
A former cadet at Virginia Military Institute, Gil Minor has mastered the art of survival as chief executive of Owens & Minor, a Richmond medical supply company. He resisted Wall Street's call to slash and burn after a near-fatal blow in May of 1998 — Columbia/HCA abruptly pulled $370 million worth of business — and managed to overcome a difficult merger with Stuart Medical in 1994. Since the late 1990s, the company has seen its stock rebound and sales triple, on the way to becoming one of the most efficient medical supply manufacturers in the country. Minor, ever the cadet, is known for his no-nonsense approach to business. He also serves on the boards of the Virginia Biotechnology Park and Richmond Renaissance.
31. Ivor Massey Jr. and Family
Ivor Massey made his millions in the stock market, then bequeathed the fortune to his son. Ivor Massey Jr. has alternately amassed huge sums and watched bits of them slip away. And whether through venture investments or goodwill giving, the family's money has made a mark on Richmond. Their personal involvement in the programs and institutions they support is paramount. Most notably, there's the internationally recognized Massey Cancer Center at VCU Health System. Also, Massey Jr. is president of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and is an appointee to the board of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
32. State Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert
"I remember telling my father in high school that I was going to be in the General Assembly one day," Lambert recalls, with his customary soft chuckle. He's worked in both chambers, first as a delegate and now as a senator. The optometrist and Democrat ranks fifth in seniority in the Senate, second when it comes to his place on the coveted and powerful finance committee. He also serves on the boards for student-loan agency Sallie Mae, Dominion Resources, Consolidated Bank and is secretary of the board of trustees for Virginia Union University. Lambert is best known for using his influence to make Richmond more inclusive. His wife, Carolyn, is from Niagra Falls. Together they've raised four community-minded children engaged in everything from city government to the new, hip Hyperlink Café. Lambert's favorite title, he says, is granddad — he has two young grandsons.
33. Daniel J. Ludeman
Daniel Ludeman was managing director of Richmond's most powerful brokerage of yesteryear, Wheat First Butcher Singer. His promotion to president and CEO of Wachovia Securities in 1999 has proven pivotal for Richmond. Carolina's Richmond hustle, in which Richmond lost Wheat First to Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union (now Wachovia), has actually helped the city. With Ludeman at the helm, Wachovia's purchase of Prudential Securities in July 2003 brought more than a thousand new jobs to Richmond, which is now on its way to becoming home to the country's third largest brokerage. Meanwhile, Richmond is re-establishing itself as a key financial hub in the South.
34. Beverley W. "Booty" Armstrong
Best known as co-owner of The Jefferson Hotel, Booty Armstrong, vice chairman of CCA Industries, is one of the area's most influential investors and civic leaders. Through his association with William H. Goodwin Jr. — he's Goodwin's most trusted partner — Armstrong is part owner of the West Creek business park in Goochland County, a former co-owner of AMF Bowling, and no-nonsense manager of numerous assets at CCA, including Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The straight-talking Armstrong is a more vocal political player than Goodwin and a key proponent behind the planned Virginia Performing Arts Center downtown. He's also an important voice at the influential Richmond Renaissance.
35. Robert F. Norfleet Jr.
Of the old Richmond banking guard, Robert Norfleet, a former corporate executive at Crestar Bank before the bank was purchased by SunTrust in the mid-1990s, has been an active voice and increasingly powerful player in local politics and civic boosterism. A regular op-ed page contributor to the Times-Dispatch, Norfleet has been at the forefront of the at-large mayor debate and the poster executive for Richmond's continuing identity crisis in the wake of North Carolina's big-bank takeover. He serves on numerous local boards and as chairman of the all-powerful Community Foundation, Richmond's nonprofit of nonprofits with more than $440 million in assets.
36. Thomas Bliley Jr.
Before Bliley, a former Republican U.S. representative, joined forces with a former Democratic governor to champion a referendum allowing for an at-large mayor, there were funerals. Bliley's father, Joseph W., grew Bliley Funeral Homes into a Richmond institution. Then Bliley, with his signature bow ties, was elected to Richmond City Council in 1968. Two years later, he became mayor. Next, he moved on to Washington, D.C. In his 10 House terms, he earned a reputation as one of its most powerful members, particularly on free-market enterprise issues and tobacco. Today, the retired Bliley may not play the game every day, as one friend puts it, but his recent partnership with Wilder shows he can still muster attention.
37. Thomas F. Farrell II
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
The chairman of Richmond's largest law firm, Hunton & Williams, Gordon Rainey oversees a powerhouse of intellectual capital. Rainey's specialty, corporate finance, reflects the personality of the firm, which has seen much of its corporate business — including big-bank headquarters — move elsewhere during the past decade and a half. The firm fields one of Philip Morris USA's legal teams — a portfolio builder — and has gained numerous Fortune 500 clients across the globe. It's just that Richmond isn't as relevant anymore. Yet Rainey, recently named rector of the University of Virginia's board of visitors, is on numerous corporate boards of directors locally and is a player in Richmond philanthropy.
28. J. Harwood Cochrane
The founder of Overnite Transportation is a local legend. Cochrane and his wife, Louise, have given $20 million to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to purchase American art. He gave $8 million to the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board before writing them out of his will, citing displeasure with fundamentalists. The 91-year-old trucking pioneer founded Overnite with a single truck in 1935 — he delivered everything from cigarettes to Ukrop's groceries. After selling Overnite to Union Pacific in 1986 for $1.2 billion, a merger that fared badly, Cochrane started Highway Express Inc. in 1991 at the age of 79. He founded that company, some say, largely to show Overnite how things should be done. He sold that company in the fall.
29. State Sen. John C. Watkins
State Sen. John C. Watkins is Chesterfield County's highest ranking politician, having served in the Virginia General Assembly for 22 years, first as a member of the House of Delegates from 1982 to 1998. A ranking Republican, Watkins has been a powerful figure in local politics and a key supporter of public transit. And his family sits on a key piece of developable land along Route 288 (it's slated for a shopping mall, among other things). Perhaps most important, Watkins has continued to call for more regional cooperation in a county where the politics are tinged with racism and many county residents still resent Richmond for annexing its easternmost corridor in 1970.
30. G. Gilmer Minor III
A former cadet at Virginia Military Institute, Gil Minor has mastered the art of survival as chief executive of Owens & Minor, a Richmond medical supply company. He resisted Wall Street's call to slash and burn after a near-fatal blow in May of 1998 — Columbia/HCA abruptly pulled $370 million worth of business — and managed to overcome a difficult merger with Stuart Medical in 1994. Since the late 1990s, the company has seen its stock rebound and sales triple, on the way to becoming one of the most efficient medical supply manufacturers in the country. Minor, ever the cadet, is known for his no-nonsense approach to business. He also serves on the boards of the Virginia Biotechnology Park and Richmond Renaissance.
31. Ivor Massey Jr. and Family
Ivor Massey made his millions in the stock market, then bequeathed the fortune to his son. Ivor Massey Jr. has alternately amassed huge sums and watched bits of them slip away. And whether through venture investments or goodwill giving, the family's money has made a mark on Richmond. Their personal involvement in the programs and institutions they support is paramount. Most notably, there's the internationally recognized Massey Cancer Center at VCU Health System. Also, Massey Jr. is president of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and is an appointee to the board of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
32. State Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert
"I remember telling my father in high school that I was going to be in the General Assembly one day," Lambert recalls, with his customary soft chuckle. He's worked in both chambers, first as a delegate and now as a senator. The optometrist and Democrat ranks fifth in seniority in the Senate, second when it comes to his place on the coveted and powerful finance committee. He also serves on the boards for student-loan agency Sallie Mae, Dominion Resources, Consolidated Bank and is secretary of the board of trustees for Virginia Union University. Lambert is best known for using his influence to make Richmond more inclusive. His wife, Carolyn, is from Niagra Falls. Together they've raised four community-minded children engaged in everything from city government to the new, hip Hyperlink Café. Lambert's favorite title, he says, is granddad — he has two young grandsons.
33. Daniel J. Ludeman
Daniel Ludeman was managing director of Richmond's most powerful brokerage of yesteryear, Wheat First Butcher Singer. His promotion to president and CEO of Wachovia Securities in 1999 has proven pivotal for Richmond. Carolina's Richmond hustle, in which Richmond lost Wheat First to Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union (now Wachovia), has actually helped the city. With Ludeman at the helm, Wachovia's purchase of Prudential Securities in July 2003 brought more than a thousand new jobs to Richmond, which is now on its way to becoming home to the country's third largest brokerage. Meanwhile, Richmond is re-establishing itself as a key financial hub in the South.
34. Beverley W. "Booty" Armstrong
Best known as co-owner of The Jefferson Hotel, Booty Armstrong, vice chairman of CCA Industries, is one of the area's most influential investors and civic leaders. Through his association with William H. Goodwin Jr. — he's Goodwin's most trusted partner — Armstrong is part owner of the West Creek business park in Goochland County, a former co-owner of AMF Bowling, and no-nonsense manager of numerous assets at CCA, including Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The straight-talking Armstrong is a more vocal political player than Goodwin and a key proponent behind the planned Virginia Performing Arts Center downtown. He's also an important voice at the influential Richmond Renaissance.
35. Robert F. Norfleet Jr.
Of the old Richmond banking guard, Robert Norfleet, a former corporate executive at Crestar Bank before the bank was purchased by SunTrust in the mid-1990s, has been an active voice and increasingly powerful player in local politics and civic boosterism. A regular op-ed page contributor to the Times-Dispatch, Norfleet has been at the forefront of the at-large mayor debate and the poster executive for Richmond's continuing identity crisis in the wake of North Carolina's big-bank takeover. He serves on numerous local boards and as chairman of the all-powerful Community Foundation, Richmond's nonprofit of nonprofits with more than $440 million in assets.
36. Thomas Bliley Jr.
Before Bliley, a former Republican U.S. representative, joined forces with a former Democratic governor to champion a referendum allowing for an at-large mayor, there were funerals. Bliley's father, Joseph W., grew Bliley Funeral Homes into a Richmond institution. Then Bliley, with his signature bow ties, was elected to Richmond City Council in 1968. Two years later, he became mayor. Next, he moved on to Washington, D.C. In his 10 House terms, he earned a reputation as one of its most powerful members, particularly on free-market enterprise issues and tobacco. Today, the retired Bliley may not play the game every day, as one friend puts it, but his recent partnership with Wilder shows he can still muster attention.
37. Thomas F. Farrell II
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
State Sen. John C. Watkins is Chesterfield County's highest ranking politician, having served in the Virginia General Assembly for 22 years, first as a member of the House of Delegates from 1982 to 1998. A ranking Republican, Watkins has been a powerful figure in local politics and a key supporter of public transit. And his family sits on a key piece of developable land along Route 288 (it's slated for a shopping mall, among other things). Perhaps most important, Watkins has continued to call for more regional cooperation in a county where the politics are tinged with racism and many county residents still resent Richmond for annexing its easternmost corridor in 1970.
30. G. Gilmer Minor III
A former cadet at Virginia Military Institute, Gil Minor has mastered the art of survival as chief executive of Owens & Minor, a Richmond medical supply company. He resisted Wall Street's call to slash and burn after a near-fatal blow in May of 1998 — Columbia/HCA abruptly pulled $370 million worth of business — and managed to overcome a difficult merger with Stuart Medical in 1994. Since the late 1990s, the company has seen its stock rebound and sales triple, on the way to becoming one of the most efficient medical supply manufacturers in the country. Minor, ever the cadet, is known for his no-nonsense approach to business. He also serves on the boards of the Virginia Biotechnology Park and Richmond Renaissance.
31. Ivor Massey Jr. and Family
Ivor Massey made his millions in the stock market, then bequeathed the fortune to his son. Ivor Massey Jr. has alternately amassed huge sums and watched bits of them slip away. And whether through venture investments or goodwill giving, the family's money has made a mark on Richmond. Their personal involvement in the programs and institutions they support is paramount. Most notably, there's the internationally recognized Massey Cancer Center at VCU Health System. Also, Massey Jr. is president of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and is an appointee to the board of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
32. State Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert
"I remember telling my father in high school that I was going to be in the General Assembly one day," Lambert recalls, with his customary soft chuckle. He's worked in both chambers, first as a delegate and now as a senator. The optometrist and Democrat ranks fifth in seniority in the Senate, second when it comes to his place on the coveted and powerful finance committee. He also serves on the boards for student-loan agency Sallie Mae, Dominion Resources, Consolidated Bank and is secretary of the board of trustees for Virginia Union University. Lambert is best known for using his influence to make Richmond more inclusive. His wife, Carolyn, is from Niagra Falls. Together they've raised four community-minded children engaged in everything from city government to the new, hip Hyperlink Café. Lambert's favorite title, he says, is granddad — he has two young grandsons.
33. Daniel J. Ludeman
Daniel Ludeman was managing director of Richmond's most powerful brokerage of yesteryear, Wheat First Butcher Singer. His promotion to president and CEO of Wachovia Securities in 1999 has proven pivotal for Richmond. Carolina's Richmond hustle, in which Richmond lost Wheat First to Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union (now Wachovia), has actually helped the city. With Ludeman at the helm, Wachovia's purchase of Prudential Securities in July 2003 brought more than a thousand new jobs to Richmond, which is now on its way to becoming home to the country's third largest brokerage. Meanwhile, Richmond is re-establishing itself as a key financial hub in the South.
34. Beverley W. "Booty" Armstrong
Best known as co-owner of The Jefferson Hotel, Booty Armstrong, vice chairman of CCA Industries, is one of the area's most influential investors and civic leaders. Through his association with William H. Goodwin Jr. — he's Goodwin's most trusted partner — Armstrong is part owner of the West Creek business park in Goochland County, a former co-owner of AMF Bowling, and no-nonsense manager of numerous assets at CCA, including Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The straight-talking Armstrong is a more vocal political player than Goodwin and a key proponent behind the planned Virginia Performing Arts Center downtown. He's also an important voice at the influential Richmond Renaissance.
35. Robert F. Norfleet Jr.
Of the old Richmond banking guard, Robert Norfleet, a former corporate executive at Crestar Bank before the bank was purchased by SunTrust in the mid-1990s, has been an active voice and increasingly powerful player in local politics and civic boosterism. A regular op-ed page contributor to the Times-Dispatch, Norfleet has been at the forefront of the at-large mayor debate and the poster executive for Richmond's continuing identity crisis in the wake of North Carolina's big-bank takeover. He serves on numerous local boards and as chairman of the all-powerful Community Foundation, Richmond's nonprofit of nonprofits with more than $440 million in assets.
36. Thomas Bliley Jr.
Before Bliley, a former Republican U.S. representative, joined forces with a former Democratic governor to champion a referendum allowing for an at-large mayor, there were funerals. Bliley's father, Joseph W., grew Bliley Funeral Homes into a Richmond institution. Then Bliley, with his signature bow ties, was elected to Richmond City Council in 1968. Two years later, he became mayor. Next, he moved on to Washington, D.C. In his 10 House terms, he earned a reputation as one of its most powerful members, particularly on free-market enterprise issues and tobacco. Today, the retired Bliley may not play the game every day, as one friend puts it, but his recent partnership with Wilder shows he can still muster attention.
37. Thomas F. Farrell II
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
Ivor Massey made his millions in the stock market, then bequeathed the fortune to his son. Ivor Massey Jr. has alternately amassed huge sums and watched bits of them slip away. And whether through venture investments or goodwill giving, the family's money has made a mark on Richmond. Their personal involvement in the programs and institutions they support is paramount. Most notably, there's the internationally recognized Massey Cancer Center at VCU Health System. Also, Massey Jr. is president of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and is an appointee to the board of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
32. State Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert
"I remember telling my father in high school that I was going to be in the General Assembly one day," Lambert recalls, with his customary soft chuckle. He's worked in both chambers, first as a delegate and now as a senator. The optometrist and Democrat ranks fifth in seniority in the Senate, second when it comes to his place on the coveted and powerful finance committee. He also serves on the boards for student-loan agency Sallie Mae, Dominion Resources, Consolidated Bank and is secretary of the board of trustees for Virginia Union University. Lambert is best known for using his influence to make Richmond more inclusive. His wife, Carolyn, is from Niagra Falls. Together they've raised four community-minded children engaged in everything from city government to the new, hip Hyperlink Café. Lambert's favorite title, he says, is granddad — he has two young grandsons.
33. Daniel J. Ludeman
Daniel Ludeman was managing director of Richmond's most powerful brokerage of yesteryear, Wheat First Butcher Singer. His promotion to president and CEO of Wachovia Securities in 1999 has proven pivotal for Richmond. Carolina's Richmond hustle, in which Richmond lost Wheat First to Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union (now Wachovia), has actually helped the city. With Ludeman at the helm, Wachovia's purchase of Prudential Securities in July 2003 brought more than a thousand new jobs to Richmond, which is now on its way to becoming home to the country's third largest brokerage. Meanwhile, Richmond is re-establishing itself as a key financial hub in the South.
34. Beverley W. "Booty" Armstrong
Best known as co-owner of The Jefferson Hotel, Booty Armstrong, vice chairman of CCA Industries, is one of the area's most influential investors and civic leaders. Through his association with William H. Goodwin Jr. — he's Goodwin's most trusted partner — Armstrong is part owner of the West Creek business park in Goochland County, a former co-owner of AMF Bowling, and no-nonsense manager of numerous assets at CCA, including Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The straight-talking Armstrong is a more vocal political player than Goodwin and a key proponent behind the planned Virginia Performing Arts Center downtown. He's also an important voice at the influential Richmond Renaissance.
35. Robert F. Norfleet Jr.
Of the old Richmond banking guard, Robert Norfleet, a former corporate executive at Crestar Bank before the bank was purchased by SunTrust in the mid-1990s, has been an active voice and increasingly powerful player in local politics and civic boosterism. A regular op-ed page contributor to the Times-Dispatch, Norfleet has been at the forefront of the at-large mayor debate and the poster executive for Richmond's continuing identity crisis in the wake of North Carolina's big-bank takeover. He serves on numerous local boards and as chairman of the all-powerful Community Foundation, Richmond's nonprofit of nonprofits with more than $440 million in assets.
36. Thomas Bliley Jr.
Before Bliley, a former Republican U.S. representative, joined forces with a former Democratic governor to champion a referendum allowing for an at-large mayor, there were funerals. Bliley's father, Joseph W., grew Bliley Funeral Homes into a Richmond institution. Then Bliley, with his signature bow ties, was elected to Richmond City Council in 1968. Two years later, he became mayor. Next, he moved on to Washington, D.C. In his 10 House terms, he earned a reputation as one of its most powerful members, particularly on free-market enterprise issues and tobacco. Today, the retired Bliley may not play the game every day, as one friend puts it, but his recent partnership with Wilder shows he can still muster attention.
37. Thomas F. Farrell II
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
Daniel Ludeman was managing director of Richmond's most powerful brokerage of yesteryear, Wheat First Butcher Singer. His promotion to president and CEO of Wachovia Securities in 1999 has proven pivotal for Richmond. Carolina's Richmond hustle, in which Richmond lost Wheat First to Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union (now Wachovia), has actually helped the city. With Ludeman at the helm, Wachovia's purchase of Prudential Securities in July 2003 brought more than a thousand new jobs to Richmond, which is now on its way to becoming home to the country's third largest brokerage. Meanwhile, Richmond is re-establishing itself as a key financial hub in the South.
34. Beverley W. "Booty" Armstrong
Best known as co-owner of The Jefferson Hotel, Booty Armstrong, vice chairman of CCA Industries, is one of the area's most influential investors and civic leaders. Through his association with William H. Goodwin Jr. — he's Goodwin's most trusted partner — Armstrong is part owner of the West Creek business park in Goochland County, a former co-owner of AMF Bowling, and no-nonsense manager of numerous assets at CCA, including Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The straight-talking Armstrong is a more vocal political player than Goodwin and a key proponent behind the planned Virginia Performing Arts Center downtown. He's also an important voice at the influential Richmond Renaissance.
35. Robert F. Norfleet Jr.
Of the old Richmond banking guard, Robert Norfleet, a former corporate executive at Crestar Bank before the bank was purchased by SunTrust in the mid-1990s, has been an active voice and increasingly powerful player in local politics and civic boosterism. A regular op-ed page contributor to the Times-Dispatch, Norfleet has been at the forefront of the at-large mayor debate and the poster executive for Richmond's continuing identity crisis in the wake of North Carolina's big-bank takeover. He serves on numerous local boards and as chairman of the all-powerful Community Foundation, Richmond's nonprofit of nonprofits with more than $440 million in assets.
36. Thomas Bliley Jr.
Before Bliley, a former Republican U.S. representative, joined forces with a former Democratic governor to champion a referendum allowing for an at-large mayor, there were funerals. Bliley's father, Joseph W., grew Bliley Funeral Homes into a Richmond institution. Then Bliley, with his signature bow ties, was elected to Richmond City Council in 1968. Two years later, he became mayor. Next, he moved on to Washington, D.C. In his 10 House terms, he earned a reputation as one of its most powerful members, particularly on free-market enterprise issues and tobacco. Today, the retired Bliley may not play the game every day, as one friend puts it, but his recent partnership with Wilder shows he can still muster attention.
37. Thomas F. Farrell II
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
Of the old Richmond banking guard, Robert Norfleet, a former corporate executive at Crestar Bank before the bank was purchased by SunTrust in the mid-1990s, has been an active voice and increasingly powerful player in local politics and civic boosterism. A regular op-ed page contributor to the Times-Dispatch, Norfleet has been at the forefront of the at-large mayor debate and the poster executive for Richmond's continuing identity crisis in the wake of North Carolina's big-bank takeover. He serves on numerous local boards and as chairman of the all-powerful Community Foundation, Richmond's nonprofit of nonprofits with more than $440 million in assets.
36. Thomas Bliley Jr.
Before Bliley, a former Republican U.S. representative, joined forces with a former Democratic governor to champion a referendum allowing for an at-large mayor, there were funerals. Bliley's father, Joseph W., grew Bliley Funeral Homes into a Richmond institution. Then Bliley, with his signature bow ties, was elected to Richmond City Council in 1968. Two years later, he became mayor. Next, he moved on to Washington, D.C. In his 10 House terms, he earned a reputation as one of its most powerful members, particularly on free-market enterprise issues and tobacco. Today, the retired Bliley may not play the game every day, as one friend puts it, but his recent partnership with Wilder shows he can still muster attention.
37. Thomas F. Farrell II
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
He's Dominion's chief-executive-in-waiting. It is well known in Richmond business circles that Farrell will succeed Thomas Capps, the chairman and CEO of Dominion Resources, when Capps retires sometime in the next two years. Farrell is quickly becoming a man Richmond's movers and shakers keep in the loop. Formerly chief executive at Dominion Energy, he officially took the helm in January as president and chief operating officer of Dominion Resources, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three of the energy firm's divisions.
38. Michael D. Fraizer
For years he was a step away from legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, guiding one of the engines behind General Electric's storied growth. Michael Fraizer's been a top executive of various real estate and insurance entities at GE, most recently GE Financial Assurance in Richmond. Today, Fraizer is chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., which went public and officially spun off from GE in late May. Instantly, Richmond has a new company with yearly revenues of $10 billion. Fraizer's pedigree — he's a Welch disciple — and newfound independence gives Richmond a new power player.
39. Brenton S. Halsey
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
In 2001 the Virginia General Assembly named Halsey an "Outstanding Virginian" — its highest award — for his behind-the-scenes efforts to transform the Virginia Historical Society from a small, sleepy library into a venerable research institution. As an entrepreneur, Halsey co-founded a small paper mill called the James River Corp., now Fort James Corp., and helped turn it into a Fortune 500 company. Retired for more than a decade, he doesn't spend his golden years on the golf course, a friend says. Instead, he devotes his retirement to history. "I enjoy history as an intellectual pursuit," Halsey has said, "but I also see it as something that should help us find solutions to our problems." He's given time and money to the Mariner's Museum, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation at Monticello, The Darden School of Business Administration and Richmond Renaissance. A Korean War veteran and member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Halsey and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children and several grandchildren.
40. Virgil R. Hazelett
Fresh from convincing the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to approve a $307.8 million bond referendum for the growing county's needs, County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett's power is on the rise. His career began in Henrico County more than 30 years ago as the county's first traffic engineer in the Department of Public Works. He oversees all operations of Henrico County government, with an operating budget of $737 million, a capital-improvement budget of $82 million and a work force of more than 9,000. A registered professional engineer, he's also a member of the International City Management Association, the American Public Works Association, the National Association of County Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers and over the years has served in a variety of professional appointments.
41. Stuart C. Siegel
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
He gave Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine the shirt on his back — and a few suits too. Siegel, chairman and former chief executive of S&K Famous Brands Inc., let his pal Kaine take a $2,000 shopping spree at S&K last year. His discount menswear store, founded with his father, I.J. "Hip" Siegel, increased total sales about 4.5 percent in its last fiscal year to $176.2 million. Siegel isn't all business and politics though. He serves on the council of the Richmond Symphony and the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. His gift of $2.3 million in investments helped open Virginia Commonwealth University's new arena on Broad Street, the Stuart C. Siegel Center, in 1998. In 2001, Siegel moved into the city, becoming the first resident of RiverLocke, a secluded and tony seven-lot neighborhood he co-developed along the James River, near Windsor Farms at the end of Locke Lane.
42. Judge Roger L. Gregory
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — one of 12 courts that rank just below the U.S. Supreme Court — serves a five-state area with the country's largest percentage of blacks. But its judges were all white until Gregory, who took his historic oath in 2001. The low-key Gregory grew up in Petersburg, was a student and law partner of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and practiced trial law before his drawn-out appointment. Legal observers point out that one voice on a 15-member court doesn't bring sweeping change. But Gregory brings balance to a court some regard as the country's most politically conservative. In April, he crafted a well-regarded dissent in the Zacarias Moussaoui case, weighing in on matters of civil liberty v. national security. In May, Gregory saw his work on the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission reach a climax. He had been appointed to the commission by the chief justice of the United States. Gregory also serves on the board of the Christian Children's Fund.
43. Peter J. Bernard
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
The chief executive of three-hospital Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Peter J. Bernard has tended to play David to HCA's Goliath. But next summer, a big stone pierces Goliath's hide with the opening of St. Francis Medical Center, a new 130-bed hospital south of the James near Brandermill. After a lengthy court battle with the mammoth HCA — the nation's largest hospital chain, with seven hospitals in the Richmond region — the Catholic-run Bon Secours convinced the state health commissioner that building a third hospital in the county wouldn't oversaturate the market. The next stage of the battle takes place bedside, where the hospital chains will duke it out for the area's best doctors. At the helm is Bernard, recently named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Man of the Year, so expect a good fight.
44. Richard L. Sharp
The former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores may be best known for his swan song. The company he managed into national prominence hasn't been the same since he retired in 2000. Consider: Circuit City posted $12.96 billion in sales his last year at the helm; in 2004 the company grossed $9.75 billion, a $3.21 billion decline. Sharp has remained a player in Richmond largely because one of his two brainstorms at the electronics giant — CarMax — turned into a major success. For years considered a dud, CarMax took off and hasn't looked back since its spinoff in 2002. Since his retirement from Circuit City, Sharp's also been an active philanthropist. He is chairman of Children First America, a nonprofit that lobbies for school vouchers for underprivileged children, and has given to local causes such as Cross Over Ministry.
45. John B. Adams Jr. and Michael Hughes
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
The Martin Agency is the crown jewel of Richmond's advertising community. Much is owed to John Adams, chairman and chief executive, and his partner, Mike Hughes, president and creative director. The two have worked together for 26 years, driving incredible growth and overseeing a creative explosion. Recently, they guided the 330-employee firm through a national advertising slump and several lost pitches. Now they're helping sell United Parcel Service, GEICO, Vanilla Coke, Quiznos Sub, Miller Genuine Draft and NASCAR — all from Shockoe Slip. Billings for Martin, owned by New York-based Interpublic Group of Cos., reached $360 million in 2002, the last time they were reported. And a fellow advertising guru says, "without Mike Hughes there would not be a VCU AdCenter." Adams is a trustee for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; both men serve on local community boards. They're seen as workaholics, creative forces and gracious leaders.
46. Austin Ligon
After seven years of languid growth, CarMax took off in the late 1990s and is gaining in prestige on its parent Circuit City, where former chief executive Richard L. Sharp launched the used-car superstore concept in 1991. As CEO, the intellectual Ligon has helped CarMax overcome initial logistics problems — originally the chain opened in overly crowded markets — and fend off national competitors such as Wayne Huizenga's AutoNation, which went out of business five years ago. Wall Street now regards CarMax, with sales of more than $4.5 billion and a stock price of $20, more favorably than Circuit City. And Ligon is becoming a fixture in Richmond.
47. J. Alfred Broaddus Jr.
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
It's nearly impossible to find anything unlikable about this native Richmonder, Washington and Lee University grad and Fulbright scholar. Al Broaddus is affable and incomparably bright. As president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, he also has a direct line to Alan Greenspan and to more cash than one can imagine — for now. But what will become of him when he retires later this summer? Will his power wane? Those who know him well say that Broaddus will, at least locally, become more influential than ever. He'll have time to tend to his interests and spread them around, they say. "He's not going to sit still," says his bank colleague and close friend Jack Blanton. "He loves Richmond and is going to be a very active player in its civic and professional life."
48. Richard G. Tilghman
The former chief executive of SunTrust Bank's Mid-Atlantic operations, Richard Tilghman enjoys the kind of reputation that is the envy of the rich, the famous and the philanthropic. Everybody knows he's a good guy to know and, still, he comes across as though few do. He lives a very private life and puts himself behind organizations instead of in front of them. Those who know him say his greatest strength is his intellect. Some important institutions depend on it. "I can't tell you how brilliant he is," says Robert Thalhimer, associate director of The Community Foundation, a nonprofit that acts as a clearinghouse for dispersing gifts to area charities. Tilghman serves on its board and oversees investments. "He's incredibly savvy," Thalhimer says.
49. The Reynolds Family
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
Considered Richmond royalty, the Reynolds family is famous for its namesake Reynolds Metals Co., the storied aluminum manufacturer that got its start producing the foil in cigarette boxes for Philip Morris. The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, named after the late founder of the company, has been involved in the arts and philanthropy since Alcoa Inc. purchased Reynolds Metals in 2000 for $6.4 billion. The current patriarch, David P. Reynolds, is 85. He and nephews Richard S. "Major" Reynolds III and R. Roland Reynolds continue to affect Richmond mostly through philanthropic ventures and real-estate holdings. And Richmond's community college is named for the late J. Sargeant Reynolds. Reynolds ventures include a controversial plan for a Wal-Mart behind the old Reynolds campus on West Broad, where Philip Morris USA is now headquartered.
50. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan retired last year, but his influence continues to shape religious life throughout Virginia. Until he turned 75 — the age at which bishops must retire — Sullivan was head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, one of the oldest and strongest in the nation with more than 213,000 members. During his tenure he advocated for a wide range of causes including welfare rights, open housing, a more humane prison system and an end to capital punishment. He has been largely praised for his efforts to unite diverse members of Richmond's faith community, but critics have questioned whether he has wielded too much authority, if not presided over a cover-up, in the wake of the sexual-abuse scandal that continues to shake Catholic parishes across the United States — including Virignia. Last year he stepped down after 12 years as bishop-president of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the Catholic peace movement. But Sullivan's reputation as a peacemaker prevails.
51. Lane B. Ramsey
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
By sheer number of employees — nearly 10,000 — Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey manages one of the biggest organizations in Richmond. Chesterfield is among the state's fastest-growing counties. Its chief executive since 1987, Ramsey's known for operating a lean, efficient, financially sound government at a crossroads with growth. The rapid residential development through the years has left a gap in tax revenue that can't keep pace with necessary services such as schools and police. With a board of supervisors traditionally beholden to residential developers, Ramsey faces the monumental task of keeping the subdivisions in check while luring businesses that bolster the tax base.
52. Thomas N. Allen
Thomas Allen is former chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., which was sold to Israel-based Delek Group in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. In the last year, he and his former partner, Dick Riley, started the Clovelly Corp. and are opening seven Huddle House franchises in Southwest Virginia (Huddle House is a 24-hour diner similar to Waffle House). Allen and Riley also have been assimilating real estate in rural areas of Central Virginia for future development. A director at Overnite Transportation and Noland Corp., Allen is well-known in the Richmond money circuit, giving regularly to state political campaigns and serving on various boards, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Richmond Symphony Foundation.
53. Bishop Peter James Lee
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia — with 87,000 members and 400 clergy — oversees the oldest and largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. For two decades Lee has been its conscience, a steadfast centrist and a consensus-builder. Nine months ago he voted to ordain the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire as the church's first openly gay bishop. The election of Robinson as bishop drew praise and condemnation from all corners of the world. Some Virginia churches threatened to leave or withhold funds. Lee dug his heels into the middle ground. He was largely successful in balancing his efforts to move past the turmoil, while acknowledging that Robinson's consecration as bishop divides the Episcopal Church. Earlier this year he remarked to his diocese, "My reading of Scripture convinces me that the Gospel is ever-increasing its power to erase the barriers that we human beings erect among ourselves. What difference does this controversy mean for us in Virginia? That depends on us."
54. Col. André Parker
Two years ago, city officials recruited Richmond Police Chief André Parker away from his job as director of operations with the East St. Louis Police to fill the spot vacated by Jerry Oliver. Parker had restored a sense of trust to a demoralized police department in East St. Louis and helped cut homicides in half. That has yet to happen here. Insiders say that Parker has the smarts to do it, but his efforts are thwarted by City Hall, state budget cuts and systemic neighborhood violence. Still, he oversees a budget of roughly $55 million and a roster of 700 officers. He's pushed street-level initiatives such as Blue Wave and created specialty units such as the Firearms and Drug Enforcement (FADE) team. He's put officers on permanent shifts so they can learn their beats better. He's targeting gangs. Now Parker's influence hangs in the balance as Richmonders prepare to elect a mayor. Meantime, Parker's mantra guides him: Adjust. Adapt. Overcome. "You have to adjust to the circumstances of the situation," Parker says. "You have to adapt either your position or your resources. And your main goal is to overcome whatever challenges you're facing."
55. Jay M. Weinberg
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
He's the lawyer the world's biggest retailer calls when it needs help. After shepherding Wal-Mart into Ashland in 2000 despite a mountain of opposition — he's done this at least four times in other states — Jay Weinberg was called again recently by the $250 billion retailer. This time, Wal-Mart wants to build a store just off Glenside Drive and West Broad Street, behind the Reynolds Metals campus. On cue, residents of the new Charles Glen subdivision are organizing in opposition. Weinberg, who's in the process of retiring, says he's still assisting on the case, kind of like Michael Jordan assisting with dunking a basketball. He's one of the best real estate lawyers in the country, peers say, and his work has propelled Hirschler Fleischer into the top tier of Richmond law firms. Weinberg has served as rector of the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, is vice chairman of the MCV Hospital Authority and serves on the board of directors at First Capital Bank.
56. The Rev. Lance
D. Watson
The congregation of 95-year-old St. Paul's Baptist Church was bulging. It was a good problem, but it's a problem no longer. In November 2002, the predominantly African-American church — the city's largest Baptist church — opened a new $25 million campus at 4247 Creighton Road. Watson, who celebrates his 20th year in the pulpit in October 2005, leads a flock of 9,000 members, with about 6,400 attending every Sunday. The church also runs seven affiliate corporations — among them a credit union, a media center, a bookstore, a child development center and the Nia Community Development Corp. Next year, it's opening Destiny Christian Academy for grades K-5 and a center for the performing arts. Watson's book, "Maximize Your Edge: Navigating Life Challenges," came out in December 2002. And last year, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore appointed him to his Gang Task Force, started to fight gang violence in Virginia.
57. Robert W. "Robin" Miller Jr.
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
In less than a decade, Robin Miller has emerged as one of Richmond's premier developers and an expert in how to use federal and state historic tax credits in tandem with the city's tax abatement program. What's more, he's made once-blighted buildings and neighborhoods desirable places to live. A graduate of West Point and Harvard University's JFK School of Government, Miller infuses his projects in the "new urbanism" discipline of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. His projects — most of them upscale apartments and condos — include transforming the Sydnor & Hundley building, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Stuart Circle Hospital and his latest, the Southern Distributors building in Manchester. He serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the advisory board of the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods and the business council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He's also a member of Richmond Renaissance and the Historic Richmond Foundation.
58. Gilbert and Fannie Rosenthal
The grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Gil Rosenthal is a philanthropic leader. He made his fortune by expanding his family's chain of midsize drug stores, then selling it to CVS Corp. in 1993. He and his wife, Fannie, who started dating as Richmond teenagers, have given to 90-plus nonprofits in the Richmond area. The Rosenthals shun the spotlight, but they are well connected. Their giving has inspired others — and they have worked behind the scenes to encourage them. Some of Gil Rosenthal's pet projects have included the William Byrd Community House, local universities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Children's Museum of Richmond, CARITAS and The Community Foundation.
59. The Sowers Family
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
Doug Sowers is developing thousands of acres of Chesterfield County into subdivisions. George Sowers wants to develop a scenic section of Route 711 in Powhatan County. And Mark Sowers? He's the one who pushed for relocating the former Richmond Renegades hockey club, and at one point the Richmond Braves, into a sports complex in the western part of Chesterfield. The Sowers brothers are one of the most active real-estate families in the region, becoming mega-developers in the fastest growing section of metro Richmond. The family is a major campaign contributor in local supervisor races, and they're even bigger players in that vilified industry currently vexing Chesterfield: residential housing.
60. Jack Shoosmith
For years, local Chesterfield County supervisor hopefuls had to get the nod from Jack Shoosmith if they had their eyes on public office. Political support is a prerequisite for running a major landfill company like Shoosmith Bros., and Jack Shoosmith learned to wield that support to great effect. Despite numerous unpopular run-ins with neighboring citizens — the very nature of trash is to reek politically — Shoosmith has remained a political force in the county, winning the board's support more often than not. He sold his interest in the garbage business four years ago, but Shoosmith remains a major landowner who has plans for future residential and commercial developments throughout the county.
61. W. Alan McCollough
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
As chairman and chief executive of Circuit City, one of Richmond's biggest corporations, McCollough inherits a spot on the list. But his stock — like that of the company he runs — has been falling. His fumbles include dumping the appliance division when it was No. 2 in national market share behind only Sears, redeveloping hundreds of stores during the holiday shopping season and reacting too late to Best Buy's warehouse-style format. Like Circuit City, McCollough has been searching for an identity since he took the helm in the summer of 2000. His remodeling of the company may eventually pay off (it's still flush with $783 million in cash) but the nation's No. 2 electronics retailer may be too far behind to catch up.
62. Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan
A movie could and likely should be made of McClenahan's life. It is more illustrious than fiction and far more provocative. As the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Douglas Southall Freeman and widow of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director Leslie Cheek, she was accustomed to privilege. Easily, she could have remained a lady who lunched. Instead, she sank her heart and hands into Richmond. An inexhaustible civic leader, she pushed efforts to improve race relations, provide affordable housing and social services, preserve history and the arts, stimulate urban renewal and advance higher education. She was the first woman to serve on the board of Richmond Renaissance, and she co-founded the Better Housing Coalition. In her golden years, McClenahan's effect on the city only seems to grow stronger.
63. Robert C. Sledd
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
Bob Sledd oversaw a merger in 1986 that launched the local success story that is Performance Food Group Co. — now the third largest food service distributor in the country, a manufacturer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and owner of the Fresh Express packaged salad line. In 2001, he turned over his chief executive title, remaining as chairman of the board. But financials of late have been disappointing, and when CEO C. Michael Gray stepped down in March, Sledd stepped up. Colleagues say he earns credibility with his down-to-earth approach. PFG has extended its help to an array of community organizations, and so has Sledd. He serves on the board of directors for Homeward, the Better Housing Coalition and the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. He's busy spearheading a campaign to raise $5 million for the Healing Place, a homeless-services and drug-abuse treatment center.
64. Alan T. Lingerfelt
After 20 years developing commercial real estate, the straight-shooting Alan Lingerfelt sold his Lingerfelt Development Corp. to Liberty Property Trust in 1995. He may have become part of a bigger pond, but he gained financially, selling his well-developed portfolio for about $125 million. He now manages Liberty's Virginia operations, which encompass about 6 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richmond area, including the Fairground Distribution Center, Eastport Industrial Park and River's Bend Center. He sits on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University's Real Estate Foundation. He has four children with his wife, Gwen.
65. Calvin D. Jamison
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
Calvin Jamison, a former star quarterback in high school, makes it clear he wants to play for and lead a winning team. In Jamison's case, that pursuit has largely meant motivating the city and its administration with well-massaged rhetoric, cultivating positive attitudes and setting a tone for success. He continues to be Richmond's greatest cheerleader. When Jamison was selected by a City Council led by then-mayor and now Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, he was derided by some as a municipal neophyte. While Jamison was praised for his congenial style and his ties to corporate Richmond, critics pointed out that his background — stints as an administrator at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a job in human resources at Ethyl Corp. — did not predict greatness as a city manager. When Richmonders vote for their new, more powerful mayor in November, it's hard to say whether Jamison will be packing his bags. For now, he appears to be clutching his city-manager philosophy as if he were still that quarterback of long ago, going back for a pass and hurling his best.
66. State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III
One of Richmond's preeminent senior statesmen, Henry Marsh has been a political force to be reckoned with — and for some that's putting it mildly — for nearly four decades. A protégé of legendary civil-rights lawyer Oliver Hill, Marsh argued school desegregation cases as a young lawyer before the U. S. Supreme Court. A champion of black voting rights, he fought to overturn Richmond's at-large council election system and, in 1977, became Richmond's first black mayor, a position he held for five years. His quarter century on City Council earned him the nickname "King Henry" because of his ability to rally the black vote. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991 and immediately opposed legislation to create a popularly elected mayor in Richmond. Thirteen years later his former college roommate, friend and political ally, L. Douglas Wilder, has made Marsh's earlier victory obsolete. Yet he still has the ear of his colleagues in the General Assembly, not to mention some on City Council.
67. Frances A. Lewis
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
To list awards and honors for her work, service and financial contributions would take volumes. Frances Aaronson Lewis is a native New Yorker who grew up in Washington, D.C.. In the early 1950s, Lewis and her late husband, Sydney, began to transform their small family book business into Best Products Inc. — at its peak, a $2 billion catalog-showroom retailer. She was in charge of corporate policy and strategy. The couple enjoyed a love affair rivaled by few. Adventurers and lovers of contemporary art, the Lewises amassed a dazzling collection of nouveau, deco and post-World War II art. Twenty years ago their holdings were installed in the wing they contributed (with art collector Paul Mellon) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They spread their fortunes even as they collected them, particularly to Washington and Lee University and VMFA. A widow for nearly 5 years, Lewis still pushes for Richmond to embrace and expand its place in the world, especially in matters close to her heart such as politics and education — and art.
68. C.T. Hill
Richmond has lost banking power since the Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank bought up Richmond's Crestar in 1998. But C.T. Hill, president and chief executive of SunTrust's Mid-Atlantic operations, remains the top dog locally. SunTrust Mortgage keeps headquarters here. And the company has a strong presence in such events as the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Hill, who has more than 30 years of banking experience, is well-liked and is recruited for boards across the city, including Richmond Renaissance, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the advisory board of the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation. In September, he served as chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions, which raises money and awareness for MS. This year, Hill takes the helm as president of the Virginia Bankers Association.
69. E. Carlton Wilton Sr.
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
He saw the future: suburbs. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., one of Richmond's most significant developers, returned from World War II to build five houses near Monument Avenue. Then he did something rare for the 1940s — he borrowed money to create a 53-home subdivision. He eventually built 4,600 houses and 2,200 apartments in the Richmond area. The business evolved to include commercial development and property management. And in 2002, Wilton sold his businesses to three investors — one of them his son Henry L. — in a deal valued at a reported $150 million. They formed The Wilton Cos. The 82-year-old Wilton, a former part-owner of Regency Square Mall, commands respect. And he has given generously to nonprofits, including the Virginia Home for Boys, where he serves on the board of governors, and the University of Richmond, where he is a trustee emeritus. In November, he was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
70. Robey "Rob" Estes Jr. and Family
With CSX Corp. now based in Jacksonville, Fla., and Harwood Cochrane finally retired, Estes Express, led by Rob Estes Jr., remains as the last major transportation company based in Richmond. With more than $960 million in annual sales and 9,600 employees spread throughout the eastern United States, Estes has managed to stay on top of the trucking business by focusing on more than just freight trucks. Last year the company launched Estes Air. The quiet, bridge-playing Estes family — W.W. Estes started the company with one truck in Chase City in 1931 before moving to Richmond in 1946 — has kept Richmond relevant as a transportation hub.
71. The Rev. Peter James Flamming
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
72. The Sauer Family
Spices and Duke's mayonnaise made C.F. Sauer Co. famous — no traditional Southerner uses anything but Duke's, first made nearly 80 years ago. But the publicity-shy family has made its presence felt in local real estate of late. Sauer Properties, a subsidiary of the spice maker, owns, among other properties, the Cary Street Court shopping center of Jean-Jacques Bakery fame, and more than 400 acres of the old Figgie International property near Virginia Center Commons in Henrico County, slated for office development. The family is extremely wealthy, albeit obscure, much like the business it runs. It doesn't advertise its spices, and until 2000
One of Richmond's most highly regarded spiritual leaders, First Baptist Church's Rev. James Flamming followed in the footsteps of the iconic Rev. Theodore Adams, taking over as senior minister in 1983. The Colorado-born Flamming leads a historic church — started in 1780 — and a membership of 3,900. He blends humor, intellect and current events into his sermons, which are seen Sunday mornings at 11 on WRIC-TV 8. The church is deeply involved in community, national and international missions, and has a thriving deaf ministry — the city's first. Flamming also serves as adjunct professor of preaching at the Baptist Theological Seminary. In October, he took the pulpit at the Washington National Cathedral as guest preacher for Virginia Day.
