Gala in Botetourt County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Norvel LaFallette Ray Lee

(1924–1992)

Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 25, 2022

1. Norvel LaFallette Ray Lee Marker

Inscription. Norvel Lee was born in Botetourt County and grew up two miles northeast of here. He joined the Army Air Forces in 1943, was trained in Tuskegee, AL. and later retired from the Air Force Reserve as a lieutenant colonel. In 1948. Lee was arrested in Covington for refusing to leave the whites-only section of a train car. The Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals reversed his conviction in 1949 on the grounds that the state could not enforce segregation laws on a local train if the passenger held a ticket for interstate travel. In 1952. Lee earned an Olympic gold medal in boxing in Helsinki, Finland. A graduate of Howard University, he was later a corrections officer and educator in Washington, D.C.

Erected 2021 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number D-5.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Sports • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1943.

Location. 37° 41.534′ N, 79° 48.686′ W. Marker is in Gala, Virginia, in Botetourt County. It is on Botetourt Road (U.S. 220) north of Gala Loop Road (County Route

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622), on the right when traveling north. It is at the north end of the Sinking Creek bridge. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16118 Botetourt Rd, Eagle Rock VA 24085, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Mountain Region.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Alleghany County / Botetourt County (approx. 7.1 miles away); Oakland Grove Presbyterian Church (approx. 8 miles away); Jackson River Depot (approx. 8 miles away); Oakland Presbyterian Church and Cemetery (approx. 8 miles away); Low Moor Iron Company Coke Ovens (approx. 8.1 miles away); C&O Railroad Shops (approx.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 25, 2022

2. Norvel LaFallette Ray Lee Marker

8.4 miles away); Chesapeake and Ohio Lines (approx. 8½ miles away); Robert Gallaspy Land Grant (approx. 8.6 miles away).

Other markers no longer nearby. Oakland Presbyterian Church (was approx. 8.1 miles away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Oakland Presbyterian Church and Cemetery (was approx. 8.1 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . Norvel Lee was honored with placement of historical marker. 2022 article in The Virginian Review.

Rev. Nelson Harris, who submitted the application for the marker, talked about Lee’s legacy growing up in Botetourt County during the time of Jim Crow. He went on to become an Olympic champion, Tuskegee Airman, World War II veteran, Lt. Col. in the US Air Force Reserves, a prominent educator, youth mentor, as well as a civil rights leader. “He was widely recognized and honored for his overall leadership of numerous projects and initiatives around the Washington, DC metropolitan area,” said Harris. “Today, in Botetourt County we recognize this county’s favorite native son,” added Harris.

(Submitted on October 14, 2022.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2022, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 539 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 14, 2022, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.