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Dr. Barbara Anthony Wright

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Class of 1960. Dr. Wright began her career in nursing in 1966 when she completed the LPN program at Dixie Hospital School of Practical Nursing. After working for eight years as an LPN, Dr. Wright decided to enroll at Thomas Nelson Community College and graduated in 1973 with an ASN.

Dr. Wright continued her employment at Hampton General Hospital in the operating room as staff nurse. Dr. Wright was hired as Staff Nurse in 1974 in the operating room at the Veterans Hospital. During her employment at the Veterans Hospital, Dr. Wright received her B.S. degree in 1979 and her Masters Degree in 1989 from Hampton Institute/University while raising three children and working full-time.

Positions held by Dr. Wright during her employment includes staff nurse, nurse manager surgical unit, supervisor in the operating room, and Associate Chief Nurse.

Dr. Wright’s career in teaching began in 1991 at Troy State University in Montgomery, Alabama as adjunct faculty. Upon retirement from VAMC in Montgomery, Dr. Wright was employed at Hampton University where she worked for twelve years.

While employed at Hampton University she received another degree as Doctor of Education. Dr. Wright also taught two years at Norfolk State University. Dr. Wright returned to Hampton University in January 2010 as the Chair of the Department of Undergraduate Nursing Education and retied in May 2012.

Dr. Wright also served 16 years in the U. S. Army reserves. Her highest rank was major. Primary roles in the reserves were NBC officer and head nurse in the operating room. Among many of

Dr. Wright's volunteer services include an active member of Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple where she proudly serves as an usher at the 7:00 a.m. service and a member of the Healthcare Ministry. 

William David Pearson

Class of 1962. David, as he is known by his friends, has excelled in the field of education as a teacher, principal and member of the Hampton City School Board. His classmates say he has been one of the stalwarts who have kept the Phenix Spirit alive at reunion and alumni activities.

After graduation from Phenix he attended Hampton Institute where he received a B. A. in 1966 with a Major in Biology and Minor in Chemistry. In 1973 he would receive his M. A. from Hampton Institute in Secondary Education and Certification in Supervision and Administration.

After graduating from Hampton Institute he served two years in the Army from 66-68 as Pharmacy Assistant and Laboratory Technician at DeWitt Army Hospital, Ft. Belvoir, VA. Upon his return to Hampton be began teaching in 1969 as a Life Science and Earth Science teacher at Thorpe Jr. High.

That would be the beginning of a steller career as he quickly rose to assistant principal positions at Thorpe Jr. High, Jones Jr. High, Eaton Fundamental School, Kecoughtan High School, and then he became principal at Davis Middle School and Bethel High School. At Davis he selected the first female assistant principal on the middle school level.

While at Davis Middle School, under his leadership, the school became a Vanguard School by the Virginia Department of Education.  He was selected as principal of the Year by the Hampton Council of PTA’s in 1999.

He served as president of both the Peninsula District and Eastern Region Principals Association. He received the Flame Bearer of Education Award by the United Negro College Fund. Mr. Pearson retired from the Hampton School System in 2000 with 32 years of service.

He then served for the Virginia State Department of Education as a consultant evaluating public schools. He served for the Hampton School System as Teacher Recruiter. He served as Assistant Director for the NASA Langley Pre-service Teacher Program and served as coordinator of the Summer Institute.

In 2007 he was appointed by the Hampton School Board to fill an unexpired term. He was then re-elected in 2008 and 2012, having been selected as Vice-Chairman his final two years. In 2016 he decided not to seek re-election.

He is married to Elaine and they have four grown children. 

Henry Livas, Jr.

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Class of 1956. After graduation he received his B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering from Bucknell University. He is retired from N.A.S.A. Langley and Civil Service as of 1998 after serving 35 years in Government Service in the Facility Systems Engineering Division.

Henry specialized as Naval Facilities Engineering, Command Executive, in Management Development, and achieved as a Level I Contracting Officer (5M award Authority). Prior to his many engineering positions, he served as a 2nd Lt. in the US Army Artillery. He later achieved the rank of captain in the reserves.

At Phenix High School he was the number one ranking member of the 1st Phenix tennis team 1954-1956. He won numerous tournaments sponsored by the Virginia Interscholastic Association and the American Tennis Association.

In 1955 and 1956 he won the VIA Championship in singles and doubles. He and his partner, “Billy” Neilson won ATA National Doubles and with Clara Henry in Texas he won the 1955 ATA National Junior Mixed Doubles Championship.

He played 4 years varsity tennis and 1 year freshman basketball. He won over 100 trophies and tennis. Five of his wins were over a younger Arthur Ashe. Later he competed locally to win many tournaments in the men of 35 division of tennis in Hampton, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

For eight years he served on the Virginia Beach Planning Commission. He has received numerous honors, awards and appointment in the State of Virginia. Appointed by the Governor of Virginia to serve on the Virginia Minority Women Business Enterprise Advisory Committee. Past president of the 300 member Norfolk Area Chapter of the National Contract Management Association.     

Copyright 2016, George P. Phenix High School.