Lawrence Hamlar facts for kids

Lawrence Harrison Hamlar, also known as L.H. Hamlar or Larry Hamlar (born November 27, 1921 – died December 31, 2003), was an important African-American leader, businessman, and someone who gave a lot to charity in Roanoke, Virginia. He was known for helping his community.

Larry Hamlar made history as the first African-American to be on the Roanoke City School Board. He even became the president of the school board! In 1959, he helped start the Pine Valley Golf Association. This was during a time called Jim Crow segregation, when Black and white people were kept separate. He later joined the Pine Valley Golf Association Hall of Fame. He was also the first African-American person to be accepted into Roanoke's special Shenandoah Club.

Early Life and Family History

Larry Hamlar was born in Goode, Virginia. He was the fifth of nine children to Robert and Maude Hamlar. In 1922, his family moved to Roanoke, Virginia and made it their permanent home.

His sister, Natalie Lorraine Hamlar-Mason, and her husband, Gilbert R. Mason, were important civil rights leaders in Mississippi. Larry's brother, David Hamlar, was also a leader in education and the community in Toledo, Ohio.

In 1963, Larry Hamlar married Constance Elaine Johnson Hamlar (1922 - 1981). Constance's father owned a well-known real estate company in Roanoke. Larry and Constance did not have any children. Constance taught English at Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina. She also taught at Virginia Western Community College for 11 years.

Larry Hamlar's Education

Larry Hamlar went to public schools in Roanoke. He graduated from Lucy Addison High School in 1939. He then went to Virginia State College (now Virginia State University). He earned a Bachelor's Degree in physical education and also studied business. He was a great football player and is even in the Virginia State University Football Hall of Fame.

After college, Hamlar trained at Citizens Undertaking in Roanoke. He became a licensed mortician after finishing his degree at the Gupton-Jones School of Mortuary Science in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1952, he started the Hamlar and Curtis Funeral Home with his partners, Cecil and Marilyn Curtis.

In May 1999, Roanoke College gave Hamlar an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. He also received another Honorary Doctorate from Virginia Seminary in Richmond. He was a member of two important fraternities: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and the Beta Phi B/boule of Sigma Pi Phi fraternity.

Business and Community Leadership

In the 1960s, Larry Hamlar helped lead a special committee in Roanoke. This group had both white and Black business leaders. Their goal was to peacefully end segregation in Roanoke, Virginia. Most importantly, Hamlar worked with city leaders to keep the peace after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968.

Hamlar helped his hometown of Roanoke in many ways. He was involved in business, sports, education, and politics. He strongly believed in higher education. He served on the board of Virginia Western Community College for 8 years. He was also the board's president for 2 years. To honor his late wife, Constance, he created the Constance J. Hamlar Memorial English Major Scholarship. This scholarship helps minority students at Virginia Western Community College. By 1994, this scholarship fund had grown to over $250,000. In 1983, he started another scholarship in his wife's name at Roanoke College.

In 1993, an organization called Total Action Against Poverty named Hamlar their Humanitarian of the Year.

As mentioned before, Hamlar also helped start the Pine Valley Golf Association in October 1959. This was during the time of Jim Crow segregation. He is a member of its Hall of Fame. He was also the first African-American person to join the Shenandoah Club in Roanoke.

Hamlar was a co-founder of Valley Bank in Roanoke, Virginia. He was also the Chairman of Explorer Park when it was being created. He was part of Destination Education and helped establish the Roanoke Higher Education Center in May 2001. Hamlar also managed the election campaign for former Roanoke Mayor Noel C. Taylor. Mayor Taylor is seen as one of the most important leaders in Roanoke's history. Hamlar received the Noel C. Taylor Distinguished Humanitarian Award in 1993. He was also named the City of Roanoke Citizen of the Year in 2001. Hamlar served on many different boards, including the Roanoke Ballet, Roanoke College (as a trustee and 15-year board member), Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke Symphony Society, and the Roanoke Science Museum.

Featured in Jet Magazine

Before he married Constance, Larry Hamlar was mentioned in the famous African American magazine, Jet Magazine. In 1958, society columnist Gerri Major wrote about him in her national column. She listed him as Black Roanoke's Top Bachelor.

His Passing

Larry Hamlar passed away on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2003. He died at Roanoke Memorial Hospital after being ill for a long time.