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2025 Living Legends: ASTON JR., G. ROBERT
Back in 1998, Aston and friends famously launched what would become Hampton Roads’ largest community bank from his garage. By April of the following year, TowneBank opened three offices with the support of 4,000 founding shareholders. Once the $203 million purchase of Old Point Financial is complete later this year, TowneBank expects to have 75 […]
2025 Living Legends: HOLTZMAN, WILLIAM B. ‘BILL’
Holtzman started his oil distribution business in 1972, purchasing Nelson Oil Co. According to the company’s history, Holtzman borrowed $37,000 from First Virginia Bank by using his Ford Thunderbird as collateral. He continued working at Turkey Knob Orchards, the Byrd family’s apple production business in Mount Jackson, while spending nights and weekends building the oil […]
2025 Living Legends: HARDEE, CARL L.
In May, Hardee retired as president and CEO of Lawson Cos., the Virginia Beach residential real estate development, construction and management company that focuses on affordable, low-income and market-rate multifamily housing. He joined Lawson in 1991 as a regional property manager at subsidiary Lawson Realty, then became its president five years later. In 1999, Hardee […]
2025 Living Legends: MORRIS, NIGEL
In 1994, Morris co-founded Capital One Financial with Richard Fairbank, who remains the credit card giant’s chairman and CEO. Morris served as Capital One’s president and chief operating officer until 2004, when he decided it was time for something new. In 2007, Morris partnered with Frank Rotman to launch QED Investors, a fintech venture capital […]
2025 Living Legends: THOMPSON, BRUCE L.
One of Hampton Roads’ most prominent developers and hoteliers, Norfolk native Thompson is best known for developing the Cavalier Resort, which includes the restored historic Cavalier Hotel as well as two new hotels, restaurants and residences on 21 acres at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, a $435 million project. Thompson opened his first hotel in the […]
2025 Living Legends: SANGHANI, MEHUL P.
Sanghani announced his departure in February from the technology firm he founded nearly 20 years ago, writing, “Octo is not just something I built; it’s a part of me, as essential as any bodily organ. It is not something that can ever be transplanted or excised.” Sanghani was born in India and raised in Blacksburg, […]
2025 Living Legends: STRAVITZ, DR. R. TODD
A former liver surgeon who led VCU Health’s liver transplant program, Stravitz is now a prominent philanthropist who has made record-setting donations to William & Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University. A graduate of W&M and New York University’s medical school, Stravitz donated $104 million in 2022 to establish the Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and […]
Living Legends 2025: Past Honorees
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2025 Living Legends: PAULETTE, WILLIAM A. ‘BILL’
In 1975, armed with $1,000 to invest, Paulette laid the foundation for what would become KBS. What started as a one-person company with an office in a sheet-metal shop has grown to a top-ranked mid-Atlantic construction firm, with $321 million in annual revenue and 110 employees in offices in Richmond and Virginia Beach. Its notable […]
2025 Living Legends: UKROP, ROBERT S. ‘BOBBY’
Although his family’s eponymous grocery chain has been out of business since 2009, Ukrop has continued his family’s legacy through the Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods brand of prepared foods and bakery operations, launched in 2010. Known for its fried chicken, potato wedges, rainbow cookies and White House Rolls, Ukrop’s products are regionally available at Kroger, Wegmans, […]
2025 Living Legends: ARCHER, ROBERT A. ‘BOB’
Archer’s career began after earning a business degree in 1969, followed immediately by military service and a tour in Vietnam. Upon his discharge in 1972, Archer was named general manager and vice president of Blue Ridge Beverage, the wholesale beer, wine and nonalcoholic distributorship his family has owned and operated since 1959. He became chairman […]
