Dana was an outstanding tennis player at Phenix and earned a Masters in City Planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977. He currently is the Executive Director of the Miami Florida Downtown Development Authority. From 1996 to 2002 Dana was the founder and president of Nottingham & Associates, a consultant firm specializing in real estate, economic development and community building. From 1989 to 1996 Mr. Nottingham was a real estate executive Vice-president for the Walt Disney Company.
A Phenix 1953 graduate, Irving was the first African-American to be allowed to enroll at Virginia Tech. His success opened the door so that others could follow.
On March 29, 2003, Irving L. Peddrew III and Charlie L. Yates were guests when Virginia Tech dedicated the Peddrew-Yates Residence Hall in honor of their achievements as and the first African-American to enroll and graduate from Virginia Tech.
He is a widely respected national and international motivational and inspirational speaker. For over 25 years he served as an internal and external organizational development consultant. He is president of Powell and Reese, Inc. Management Consultants specializing in Energizing the Human Potential in Organizations. He is founder of the Powell Foundation, an organization designed to improve life in communities.
A 1968 graduate of Phenix High, Sheriff Roberts began his law enforcement career as a patrolman on the Newport News Police Force.
He then launched a 19-year career with Hampton University's Campus Police, rising to the rank of the Director of Police and Public Safety until 1992, at which time he was elected the first African-American constitutional officer and Sheriff for the City of Hampton.
A graduate of Phenix High School, he completed two years of college at Hampton Institute before entering the military. In 1967 in Viet Nam, 1st Lt. Ruppert Sargent valiantly gave his life by throwing himself on two grenades to save the lives of his fellow soldiers. In 2002 the City of Hampton dedicated the new administration building the Ruppert Leon Sargent Administration Building in his honor.
A graduate of the Dixie Hospital Nursing Program, she began her career at Hampton General Hospital. In 1963 she led a sit-in of the segregated cafeteria and was fired. She fought her battle all the way to the Supreme Court and won. Her victory eventually integrated all services of the hospital. She worked as a Supervisor at Whitaker Hospital before retiring from the VA Medical Center.
A 1954 graduate, earned his MS in Education from Indiana University. He began teaching in 1961 and rose to Assistant Superintendent in Hampton in 1976. In 1991 he was appointed the first Black Superintendent of Hampton City Schools and remained until he retired in 1994. His legacy was implementing programs for low achieving and gifted students.
