Richard A Lomax

2011 C. H. Shorter Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Richard A Lomax

Richard A. Lomax was born in Osaka, VA to Fred and Bessie Lomax. He graduated from James A. Bland High School in 1961. He attended the Professional Business Institute of X-Ray Technology in Minneapolis, MN. He moved to Harford, CT, where he was employed at the Institute of Living. He later returned to his home town, Big Stone Gap, VA, to work for Eastman in Kingsport, TN retiring after 30 years of service in 1994.

Richard has carved out his own niche in the community. Of his many talents, he most enjoys singing and playing the piano. Richard began developing his musical talents at a young age when he and his sister, Annie, received their first piano at the age of seven with the assistance of Viola Davis, Grace Murphy, Doc Foreman, and Roger Earls.

As a young adult, Richard had a vision. He was instrumental, along with Susanne Jackson, Irene Watkins, and Quentin Long in organizing the Southwest Virginia Community Choir, later to become the Evangelistic Choralaires. His vision expanded beyond Big Stone Gap to include nearly 200 members from Wise, Russell, Lee, and other Southwest Virginia counties.

The Evangelistic Choralaires, under Richard’s leadership, have traveled and performed extensively in Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland, Indiana, Washington, DC, Alabama, North Carolina, West Virginia, including many towns and cities in Virginia. They performed at the World’s Fair in Knoxville, TN and had the honor of performing at the Virginia State Baptist Convention in Richmond, VA.

Many people have been blessed by Richard’s music and his leadership. He was honored by the community August, 31, 2008 at the Heritage Church of God, Big Stone Gap, VA, as a talented artist for a “lifetime of joyful music”.

Richard not only has musical talent, he is tenacious. Since the first alumni reunion in 1973 consisting of graduates and attendees of Appalachia Training School, Central High School, and James A. Bland Schools, Richard and a large committee kept the memories of these schools alive. For 40 years, Richard not only served as the only Financial Secretary, but worked with other committees to ensure the reunion was always successful. He and the reunion committee, Dorothy Sanders, Ruth Hoskins, Eugene Moss, to name a few, worked tirelessly to organize and host fun-filled, memorable, biennial ATCB Reunion weekends. They set a high standard for other committees to follow.

Richard has been sharing his talents for years with the community and that sharing has not stopped. At his request, his award, the First C. H. Shorter Lifetime Achievement Award, will be shared with the community by being displayed at the Lonesome Pine School and Heritage Center, 511 Clinton Ave., Big Stone Gap, VA.