Head Table Guests at 50th Anniversary Dinner

Name/Title

Head Table Guests at 50th Anniversary Dinner

Entry/Object ID

2021.6.63

Description

Color photograph. Rectangular. Shot landscape orientation. Pictured standing and smiling are some of the evening's guests, presumably the guests of honor, at the head table of the banquet room. Everyone wears formal clothing. Susan Allen and Mills E. Godwin, Jr. appear to be having a conversation. On the reverse, "5503" is written in blue ink in the bottom right corner. There is also a small label attached to the reverse.

Made/Created

Notes

Original

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Label

Location

Reverse center

Transcription

Head table left side, l-r Gov. Godwin, Mrs. Allen, Mr. Walker, Mrs. Walker PHMF Exec VP Jim Elson

Language

English

Material/Technique

Label

Provenance

Notes

The PHMF Golden Anniversary Celebration was held on Thursday, October 27, 1994, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Foundation's establishment. The PHMF was incorporated on October 27, 1944. The event was held at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia. Mills E. Godwin, Jr. (1914–1999) received the Patrick Henry Award that evening. He served as Governor of Virginia for two non-consecutive terms, from 1966 to 1970 and 1974 to 1978. The PHMF awarded Godwin Jr. the Patrick Henry Award for "distinguished service to the Commonwealth of Virginia." Susan Allen (1964–) was the wife of Governor George Allen (1952–), who delivered a message at the dinner. George Allen served as the 67th governor of Virginia from 1994 to 1998 and later as a United States senator from Virginia from 2001 to 2007. Irvin D. Walker (1922–2009) was a former PHMF president and gave the benediction to end the evening's events. Geraldine "Gerry" Walker (1923–2008) was his wife. James "Jim" M. Elson (1932–2021) was the Executive Vice President of the PHMF at the time of the event. Staff found this photograph in the existing files of Red Hill's collection and accessioned it on May 30, 2024, due to its importance to PHMF's institutional history.