Benjamin Lambert

Benjamin J. Lambert, III (January 29, 1937 – March 2, 2014) was an American optometrist and legislator elected to the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate as a Democrat.

Early life and education

Lambert was born in Richmond, Virginia on January 29, 1937. Lambert attended racially segregated public schools in Henrico County, Virginia. He received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Union University and a graduate degree from the New England College of Optometry. He began practicing optometry in Richmond in 1962. He went to Sandston elementary, which was also segregated, for elementary school.

Political career

In 1977, Lambert was elected a Member of the House of Delegates from the Richmond-based 33rd district. In 1985, he was elected to the Virginia Senate representing the 9th Senate District, which included all of Charles City County, and parts of Henrico County and the City of Richmond. He was the first African-American in the 20th Century to serve on the Virginia Senate Finance Committee. During his senate tenure, Lambert served on a number of committees, including Education and Health, General Laws, Privileges and Elections, Senate Finance, General Government, and Health and Human Resources. Additionally, he chaired the Subcommittees on Higher Education and General Government, the Brown v. Board Scholarship Commission, and the Lead Abatement Subcommittee.^[1]

In 2006, Lambert endorsed Republican U.S. Senator George Allen's unsuccessful reelection bid.^[2] The following year, Senator Lambert was defeated for re-election by former Delegate Donald A. McEachin who made the Allen endorsement a key factor in the contest.^[3]

Corporate and other board service

Lambert served as Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Virginia Union University and Virginia Commonwealth University's Health Systems Authority Board. He also served as a Director of Consolidated Bank & Trust Company and USA Education Inc. He served on many different boards like The Benedictine College Preparatory and other schools. Lambert has served as a Director of Dominion Resources since 1994.^[4]

Death

Lambert died, aged 77, on March 2, 2014, in a Richmond hospital, following a period of failing health.^[5]

Papers

The L. Douglas Wilder Library and Learning Resource Center at Virginia Union University holds Lambert's correspondence as Senator from 1991-2000.^[6]

References

1. "Biography of Benjamin Lambert. Commonwealth of Virginia". Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
2. "Understanding George Allen's Best Black Friend by Courtland Milloy". The Washington Post. October 3, 2006. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
3. "Election roundup". Virginia Lawyers Weekly. 13 June 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
4. Executive Profile: Benjamin Lambert, Bloomberg BusinessWeek Retrieved September 28, 2011.
5. Dr. Benjamin J. Lambert III, former state senator, dies Richmond Times-Dispatch. March 3, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
6. "A GUIDE TO THE SEN. BENJAMIN J. LAMBERT III PAPERS 1991-2000". Virginia Heritage. 2002. Retrieved August 17, 2016.