Sept. 28 Newsletter: Remembering Jim Ukrop
Weather: High of 76 kicks off a pleasant week ahead.
On this date in 1965, a report says that Richmond and Henrico need to improve cooperation in several areas, including storm drainage and sewers.
Richmonders remember the life and legacy of Jim Ukrop
We asked for your memories of Jim Ukrop, who died Friday evening at the age of 89. (Read Graham Moomaw's obituary here.)
- Eric Walters, co-founder, Ellwood Thompson's: "Jim always took my call and was incredibly helpful with his time and advice. He could have just blown me off since I was sort of a competitor, but he never did."
- Laura Markley, general partner, New Richmond Ventures: "We threw him an 80th birthday party at the office. When we called for a toast he said, 'I pray to God every night to have one more day. I think I can make a difference if I have one more day.' Boy, did he make a difference with every day he had.
- Sarah Abubaker, city councilor: "Jim believed in me when others hesitated. He invested in me financially and spiritually. It is no overstatement to say I am where I am today because of him. What’s remarkable is that I know hundreds, if not thousands, of others feel the same way."
- Laura Lafayette, Richmond Association of Realtors: "The Ukrops paid for my grandmother's health insurance from the time of her mandatory retirement at 65 until she died at 105. Both James (as he was known in our family) and Bobby came to my grandmother's 100th birthday party and her funeral."
Bobby Wadkins, kidney transplant donor have a bond that goes beyond golf
Wadkins, a 2018 inductee into the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame, was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune kidney disease in early 2022.
“I trusted the doctors and trusted the science and medicine. I also trusted the fact that lots of people live with only one kidney, and I was committed to a lifestyle that wouldn’t torpedo being a donor,” he said.
This morning, they'll share their story before the National Kidney Foundation Golf Classic in Moseley. Read more here.
Emails: Amid public celebration, data glitches were piling up during DPU billing system transition
On the morning of May 26, Richmond’s Department of Public Utilities announced it had successfully launched two new systems meant to track customer accounts and improve service in the field.
Around the same time that news release went out at 10 a.m., DPU Senior Deputy Director Jamie Porter noticed some problems.
“Team,” Porter wrote in a 9:53 a.m. email. “I am getting error messages from Kubra.” Read more here.
GO BEHIND THE REPORTING: The Richmonder tried to dig deep on DPU billing issues. The city sent a $14.7K FOIA bill
PHOTOS: Rolling with the punches: Richmond hosts roller derby invitational
Members of the River City River Rats hosted teams from around the country at the People's Battle of Richmond. See more here.
After-school activity provider says group is facing a funding ‘cliff,’ asks for money from upcoming marijuana tax
When cannabis sales become legal in Virginia next July, Richmond and other localities will have the option to add a 1% to 3.5% tax to fund four priority areas – K-12 education, public health, economic opportunity and substance abuse and prevention.
NextUp, which provides after-school programming for RPS, asked the district to advocate for that local tax to go towards its programming. Read more here.
In other news
- Richmond-inspired literary magazine publishes final anthology after celebrated run
- The concept for Makeout Creek came about 20 years ago. Andrew Blossom, a VCU student, pitched the idea of creating a journal to his friends.
- University of Richmond announces historic $150 million gift at kickoff of a $600 million philanthropic campaign (Press release)
- The anonymous gift is the largest in the school's history.
- Chuck Varga, 'one of a kind' founding member of Richmond's GWAR, dead at 68 (CBS 6)
- Varga co-founded Slave Pit Studios in Richmond, where he helped develop GWAR into one of the most distinctive acts in rock history.
- Hit-and-run kills Henrico firefighter; police searching for suspect (12 On Your Side)
- The firefighter was riding a motorcycle when he was hit by an SUV. He was wearing a helmet at the time.
- Identical twin doctors who grew up in poverty returned to their Virginia hometown to co-run an ER (CBS Evening News)
- Steve Hartman profiled doctors at Chippenham Hospital.
The editor's desk
When I was first pitching the idea of The Richmonder, one thing I heard often was, "Oh, Jim Ukrop is going to love this." Thankfully, he did.
It was an incredible honor to have him as one of our early donors. We will carry his memory forward in our work each day to make Richmond a better place.
Michael Phillips, founder
mphillips@richmonder.org
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