Benjamin Lambert was born in Richmond, Virginia on January 29,1937.
15 Facts About Benjamin Lambert
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Benjamin Lambert attended racially segregated public schools in Henrico County, Virginia, including Sandston Elementary.
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Benjamin Lambert then began studying mathematics at Virginia Union University and after graduating with honors, went on to earn a graduate degree from the Massachusetts College of Optometry.
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Benjamin Lambert married the former Carolyn Lee Morris and they would have children Benjamin Lambert IV, David M Lambert, Charles J Lambert and Ann F Lambert.
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Benjamin Lambert began practicing optometry in Richmond's Jackson Ward in 1962, and ten years later the Richmond Jaycees named him their Most Outstanding Young Man in Richmond.
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Benjamin Lambert was active not only in his St Paul's Baptist Church and college alumni association, but the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, the Salvation Army Boys Club and the North Richmond YMCA.
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Benjamin Lambert became known for his efforts to make Richmond more inclusive.
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Benjamin Lambert was named the Virginia Optometrist of the Year, and received the National Conference of Christians and Jews' Humanitarian Award.
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Benjamin Lambert began serving in the part-time position in 1978, and was re-elected several times, although the district boundaries changed after the 1980 census to include east-central Henrico county and part of Charles City County and the new single-member district was renumbered the 71st.
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Benjamin Lambert helped expand the scope of services that fellow optometrists could provide, and worked to limit deleterious professional effects of retail interests.
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Benjamin Lambert was re-elected several times and rose in seniority for decades.
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Benjamin Lambert was the first African-American in the 20th Century to serve on the Virginia Senate Finance Committee.
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Benjamin Lambert became known for his efforts to bridge party lines, and on behalf of education.
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In 2006, Benjamin Lambert endorsed Republican US Senator George Allen's unsuccessful reelection bid.
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Benjamin Lambert was survived by his widow, four community minded children, and several grandchildren.