July 5, 1963
On July 5, 1963, we find one of our brethren, H. Douglas Hamner Jr., mentioned in The Progress-Index who was the Town Manager of Front Royal. He had taken on a new position as a City Manager in Hopewell, Virginia. Brother Hamner was not only a member of the Blue Lodge, but he was a member of Hiram Royal Arch Chapter No. 45.
![New City Manager Named In Hopewell
HOPEWELL - H. Douglas Hamner Jr., 36, will become City Manager of Hopewell effective Aug. 19, succeeding Levin D. James who announced in early April his intentions to retire. Announcement of Hamner's acceptance was made known in a letter to Mayor Marvin C. Neal today.
A native fo Amelia County, Hamner is presently serving as City Manager of Front Royal, a position he has held since August, 1954. Prior to that he was director of public works of South Norfolk and engineering assistant in the Department of Public Works for the City of Alexandria.
Hamner was graduated in 1950 from Virginia Military Institute with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, Unity Lodge No. 146. AF&AM, Hiram RA Chapter No. 45, the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Front Royal, the Front Royal Chamber of Commerce, the International City Managers Association and a member of the Executive Committee of the Virginia Section of that association.
He also is a member of the Virginia Municipal Electric Association, the Front Royal Golf and Country Club and Past President of the Northern Virginia VMI Alumni Association.
He has served with the U. S. Army Air Corps and in 1951-52 spent 21 months with the Air Force. He is married to the former Miss Nancye Carlisle Foscue, a native of Lawrenceville. The couple has three sons, Bill, 11, Nat, 9, and Hal, almost one year.
In his letter to Mayor Neal today Hamner said he was "honored and pleased to receive notification of his acceptance to the City Manager's position."
He expressed appreciation for the confidence and trust placed in him by the Hopewell City Council and said that he was greatly anticipating what lies ahead in his association with the governing body and the pleasure of becoming a part of the community.
City Manager James announced to the city council that he planned to retire "on or about the first of September" since has passed retirement age. He has served as city manager in Hopewell since Niv. 15, 1954, and has been connected with municipal government since Oct. 1, 1934.
A native of Onancock on the Eastern Shore, James has had 29 years experience in municipal givornment.
[Profile photo of H. Douglas Hamner Jr. captioned with his name underneath]
He attended Lynchburg College and served for 13 years as City Clerk in Roanoke. Later he became City Manager of Hampton where he served five years before coming to Hopewell.](https://unity146.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/the-progress-index-july-5-1963-page-13-clipping-new-city-manager-named-in-hopewell.png)
Page 13
| Newspaper | The Progress-Index Petersburg-Colonial Heights, Virginia |
| Published | July 5, 1963 |
| Volume | 99 |
| Number | 1 |
| Section | Tri-City News Petersburg, Colonial Heights, Hopewell |
| Article | New City Manager Named In Hopewell |
| Page | 13 |
Unity Lodge No. 146 
You must be logged in to post a comment.