ROANOKE, Va. – The former Roanoke Times building in downtown Roanoke will be the future home of Roanoke City Public Schools and many residents are advocating for who they believe the building should be named after.
A sign that reads “Future home of Roanoke City Schools” now dons the former Roanoke Times press building. Eventually, it will have an official name.
“We need to name the new administrative building for Roanoke City Schools after Bill, because he was such a statue of education,” said Bev Fitzpatrick, the former executive director for the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
William Robertson, known as Bill, was a Roanoke native and an educator in the Star City. He impacted thousands through his efforts in creating a summer camp for children with disabilities.
“There was no place for those kids to go to camp, and he felt we needed a camp in Virginia so the name he came up with was Camp Virginia Jaycee,” he added.
Robertson was a member of the Roanoke Jaycees, a leadership development organization for active citizens. Fitzpatrick was also a member.
Robertson became of the first black advisors to the Virginia Governor, when he worked alongside Linwood Holton. There, he made strides in desegregation.
“Lin Holton called him up and said, ‘I need for you to come to Richmond,’ and he came to work for the Governor, and what he did in large part was getting state agencies to start hiring African Americans.”
Robertson passed away last year at the age of 88. Those who knew him say his legacy of a trail blazer and a civic leader impacted the history of Roanoke so much, they want his name to be part of the future.
The Roanoke City School Board is accepting naming submissions through October 11.