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COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION 03/09/2023-REPORTED OUT TO THE FLOOR 02/28/2023-REPORTED OUT TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES AND JUDICIARY BILL NO. 35-0011 Thirty-Fifth Legislature of the Virgin Islands January 31, 2023 An Act honoring and commending former Senator Horace A. Callwood, Sr. posthumously for his dedication, service, and commitment to the people of the Virgin Islands and naming the north-south street immediately east of Windward Passage in his memory PROPOSED BY: Senators Marvin A. Blyden, Angel L. Bolques, Jr., Carla J. Joseph, Donna A. Frett-Gregory, Alma Francis Heyliger, Milton E. Potter and Ray Fonseca Co-sponsors: Diane T. Capehart and Kenneth L. Gittens WHEREAS, former Senator, Horace A. Callwood, Sr., a born Savanero, was born on 1 St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, on February 17, 1934, to Annie Martinez Hodge Callwood 2 and Richard Alexander Callwood, Sr. of St. Thomas; and 3 WHEREAS, Horace attended public elementary and secondary schools on St. Thomas. 4 He was one of the top students at the Charlotte Amalie High School and graduated with the 5 well-known Class of 1952; 6 WHEREAS, after completing high school, Horace attended Hampton Institute (now 7 Hampton University) in the state of Virginia. As a full-time student at Hampton, Horace 8 worked as a part-time waiter at the Hotel Chamberlain during each semester and full-time 9 during Christmas and summer vacations; 10 2 WHEREAS, in 1956, Horace graduated with honors and obtained a bachelor’s degree 1 in accounting from Hampton Institute as well as a Military Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in 2 the U.S. Army from Hampton’s ROTC program; 3 WHEREAS, after completing his military service at Fort Eustis in Virginia, Horace 4 returned to St. Thomas where he worked as a Supervisor of Accounts for the Department of 5 Social Welfare for many years under the Governor John David Merwin administration (a 6 civilian appointed governor). Horace’s government service also included serving as Special 7 Assistant to Government Secretary Roy Bornn, handling insurance, banking, and alcohol board 8 matters; 9 WHEREAS, after leaving government service, Horace joined the various Manassah 10 businesses, becoming a leading businessman until the date of his passing. His mentor was the 11 late Manassah Francis, who instilled in him a love for helping and uplifting the people and who 12 also encouraged him to run for the Senate; 13 WHEREAS, Horace engaged in public service by joining the Unity Party, which 14 represented the people in obtaining economic, educational, housing, medical and political 15 advancement; 16 WHEREAS, thereafter, Horace was elected as a senator of the Legislature of the Virgin 17 Islands from the district of St. Thomas and served in the 7th and 8th Legislatures. Horace never 18 stopped being of service to his people; and 19 WHEREAS, Horace worked with Senator Earl B. Ottley, Valdemar Hill, Sr., and many 20 others on the Victory ’66 efforts to build up the populist, grassroots Unity Democratic Party 21 and win seats in the 7th Legislature. Senator Callwood and his colleagues changed the law and 22 substantially put in place what is now Title 18 that made all political parties open to whoever 23 chooses to join; 24 WHEREAS, after passing the election law, the Unity Democrats registered en masse in 25 the Donkey Democratic Party which was affiliated with the National Democratic Party, and 26 3 elected new party leadership, thereby creating the single Democratic Party of the Virgin 1 Islands, as we know it today; 2 WHEREAS, Horace worked for proper representation and fair treatment for all people 3 in the Virgin Islands; 4 WHEREAS, Horace was also present at the revolutionary 1968 U.S. Democratic 5 Convention in Chicago when competing delegations from a number of Southern states sought 6 recognition, as some state-level party organizations had excluded Black voters from 7 participating in their primary processes. The Democratic party had to face the issue which 8 ended up before the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled, in the landmark cases United States v. 9 Classic and Smith v. Allwright, in favor of the principle of “one man, one vote.” As a result, 10 districts in the United States had to be reapportioned, even in the USVI. Horace advised that 11 districts with numbered seats would foster party candidates supporting each other rather than 12 competing against each other, thereby allowing elected senators to advance causes and work 13 as a team, and worked for electoral reform for the rest of his life; 14 WHEREAS, Horace met every week with the Horace A. Callwood Democratic 15 Breakfast Club, (formerly the Democratic Breakfast Club) named in his honor in recognition 16 of his tireless work to build a strong, active Democratic Party, at the Windward Hotel and, the 17 East End Democratic Club at the Bolongo Hotel where he shared his concerns for the 18 community and his passion for service. He was held in high esteem and his main concern was 19 that his work and endeavors produced positive results; 20 WHEREAS, he has been honored for his dedication to uplifting people by various 21 groups; 22 WHEREAS, Horace is known as a long-term member of the internationally known 23 Rotary civic organization, which renders voluntary services to their communities. For Horace, 24 Rotary was truly a fellowship. He was elected president and visited Australia during his term 25 4 to attend the International Rotary Convention. He was also named Person of the Year in 2016 1 by his Rotary II St. Thomas Club. Horace is also a founding member of the club’s Paul Harris 2 Society; 3 WHEREAS, he was well known for his entrepreneurship, most notably at School 4 Busing, Inc., which was but one of his many successful business ventures. He was also 5 instrumental in expanding marine transportation from downtown Charlotte Amalie to the 6 British Virgin Islands on the Bomba Charger by leading the charge to purchase the larger 7 Bomba Challenger and the triple decker Bomba Cruiser that also connected St. Thomas to St. 8 Croix and Puerto Rico, thereby providing reliable modern passenger ferry service; 9 WHEREAS, he was a partner in School Busing, Inc., and offered assistance and advice 10 to many. Horace shared wisdom with people who were interested in self-improvement 11 regardless of their station in life, and he taught many how to save money and cooperate to 12 accomplish goals. He stressed the importance of always holding a job, no matter the business, 13 and of preserving cash flow; 14 WHEREAS, Horace taught you that a person’s honor was what mattered most, not 15 money. He would always proclaim: “Not how he died, but how did he live? Not what did he 16 gain but what did he give? These are the units to measure the worth of a man as a man 17 regardless of birth. Not what was his creed, but had he befriended those in need? Was he ever 18 ready with a word of good cheer, to bring back a smile, to banish a tear?”; 19 WHEREAS, Horace was well known for avoiding honors and awards. He kept his feet 20 solidly on the ground, always being a “man of the people.” He preferred private life to “pomp 21 and circumstance.” Indeed, he was always much admired and respected for his frankness and 22 intelligence, and especially in his ability to get along with others, even those with opposite 23 views, as he tirelessly devoted himself to the advancement of his community; and 24 WHEREAS, Horace lived life his way. He believed that in life, one must do good and 25 enjoy life. He strived to live a worthy life. Horace never stopped being of service to his people. 26 5 His last weeks were peaceful, and he felt loved. On September 11, 2020, Horace went on his 1 last journey. He was a leading businessman until the date of his passing. Now, Therefore, 2 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 3 SECTION 1. The Legislature of the Virgin Islands, on behalf of the people of the Virgin 4 Islands, posthumously honors and commends the late former Senator Horace A. Callwood for 5 his dedication, service, and commitment to the Virgin Islands community. 6 SECTION 2. In commemoration of his contributions and service to the Virgin Islands, 7 the portion of Tvaer Gade south of Krondprindsens Gade, is renamed “Horace Callwood 8 Drive” in his honor. 9 SECTION 3. The Department of Public Works shall cause to be prepared and installed 10 suitable signs bearing the inscription “Horace Callwood Drive”, which must be conspicuously 11 affixed in permanent and appropriate locations. 12 SECTION 4. The sum of $5,000 is appropriated in the fiscal year ending September 30, 13 2023 from the St. Thomas Capital Improvement Fund under title 33, subtitle 3, chapter 111, 14 section 3057a to the Department of Public Works to erect the appropriate signage. The funds 15 remain available until expended. 16 SECTION 5. A perma plaque copy of this act shall be prepared and presented to the 17 family of Horace A. Callwood by the President of the Legislature or designee, at an appropriate 18 ceremony held for that purpose. 19 BILL SUMMARY 20 This bill posthumously honors and commends former Senator Horace A. Callwood for 21 his service and commitment to the people of the Virgin Islands and names the portion of Tvaer 22 Gade south of Krondprindsens Gade in his memory. 23 BR23-0160/January 18, 2023/AA 24