Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

Remembering

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by

Dick Hall-Sizemore
in ,

Woodrow W. “Buddy” Dowdy. Photo credit: Bob Brown, Richmond Times-Dispatch

by Dick Hall-Sizemore

Jeff Shapiro of the Richmond Times-Dispatch has a nice column today remembering people in Virginia politics and government whose deaths in 2021 may have gone largely unnoticed. For those interested in recent political history, you may want to check it out. During my time around Capitol Square, I knew and have fond memories of Frank Hargrove, the Hanover County Republican delegate who annually put in a bill to abolish the death penalty, and Buddy Dowdy, the Capitol Police officer who died of COVID-19.

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2 responses to “Remembering”

  1. Cranky Avatar
    Cranky

    “[F]riendly, service-oriented demeanor” may be an understatement. Buddy emitted warmth and good cheer, even when working parking on Capitol Square in the frigid depths of the Generous Assembly session. And, as far as I could tell, he greeted us peasants with the same welcoming ceremonies as he did the Great Ones.

  2. Stephen Haner Avatar
    Stephen Haner

    You must have a higher tolerance for psychic pain than I do, because thinking about those two is still hard for me. Frank hired me to the caucus director post 34 years ago, and was my boss those five years and then my friend for the rest of his life. Buddy’s regular post was at the front door of the Attorney General’s Office (then in the Pocahontas building) during my four years as director of administration. His friendly, service-oriented demeanor was great with visitors.

    You and I know what so many of the cynics among the readers don’t, that working around the Capitol was/is so much fun because of the people, and some of the one’s you enjoy most have truly nutty politics but you set that all aside when you can! Gossip is the currency but humor is the grease that smooths all.

    Time to check the Turner Classic Movies website for the annual In Memoriam video they do for the Hollywood crowd.

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