On Monday, June 23, out-going Editor of the Virginia Quarterly Review Staige Blackford died after his vehicle was struck broadside by another vehicle.
"His wife was making a left turn onto Arlington Boulevard from Emmett Street when the car was struck by a vehicle moving south on Emmett," Secretary of the Board of Visitors and friend Alexander Gilliam said.
Gilliam and Charlottesville native Blackford began a friendship during their undergraduate years.
"He was president of the Raven Society and received the Raven Award," Gilliam said.
The two men continued their friendship professionally when they both worked for former Governor Linwood Holton.
"Staige was the press secretary and speech writer and I was a special assistant," Gilliam said.
Holton took a bold stance on integrating Virginia and Blackford was a key ally of his, College Dean and VQR Advisory Editor Ed Ayers said.
"He was very much an activist in the civil rights movement," Ayers said. "He helped Virginia to develop more enlightened policies with race."
Blackford sparked discussion on integrated schools early, when he wrote a controversial article for the Cavalier Daily while he was an editor in 1952, Gilliam said.
"For a long time he was a really well known personality at the University that everyone knew and admired," Ayers said. "He was hilarious with a great sense of humor and he was very knowledgeable."
Blackford graduated from the University in 1952. He was a Rhodes Scholar and member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
In addition to speechwriting, Blackford edited an internal publication at Time Magazine and a history encyclopedia and wrote for the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot. Under his nearly 30 years of leadership, the VQR was one of the America's preeminent literary publications.
Ayers remembers his former editor fondly.
"I came to know him because I found I could write a review for the VQR and pick up a book for free," Ayers said. "He befriended me and I wrote several long essays for the VQR."
"He was a very distinguished and readily changed the character of the Quarterly Review," Professor emeritus and friend David Rubin said."He opened the Quarterly to articles on politics and history, particularly southern. That really changed the character of the Review.He was a very scrupulous, conscientious, innovative editor."
Blackford was survived by a wife, two daughters, a sister and two grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, July 3 at St. Paul's Memorial Church at 11 a.m.
Read More
U.Va. Faculty Senate overwhelmingly adopts a no confidence vote in Board of Visitors
By Xander Tilock | Yesterday"The Faculty Senate expresses no confidence in the Board of Visitors for not protecting the University and its president from outside interference," the resolution read.
Faculty Senate Executives hear from Rector Sheridan and Vice Rector Wilkinson
By Xander Tilock and Grace Traxler | 2 days agoRectors were in attendance for part of Wednesday’s emergency meeting and were asked about the interim president selection process.
Student leaders weigh the future of self-governance after Ryan's departure
By Brendon Bordwine | 3 days agoThe University has a historical tradition of student self-governance, which allows students to take part in decision-making processes.
