Virginia Rep. Donald McEachin, a lawyer turned state legislator turned U.S. congressman who fought for issues ranging from the environment to the renaming of Fort Lee, died Monday night. He was 61.
WASHINGTON — Virginia Rep. Donald McEachin, a lawyer turned state legislator turned U.S. congressman who fought for issues ranging from the environment to the renaming of Fort Lee, died Monday night of complications from colorectal cancer just three weeks after being re-elected to a fourth term on Capitol Hill. He was 61.
McEachin had battled a series of health issues over the years, most importantly the colorectal cancer. Always a tall and burly man, McEachin's weight loss as a result of his health was quite noticeable, but he did not let health setbacks stop him. “Up until the very end, Don was a fighter," Warner said in a statement."Even though he battled cancer and faced other trials in recent years, he never lost his focus on social and environmental justice. Tonight, Virginia has lost a great leader and I have lost a great friend.”
Because of that, McEachin refused to debate Benjamin in the runup to this year's election. In an interview with The Progress-Index days before the Nov. 8 election, McEachin explained why he would not face off with him. In Washington, McEachin was regarded as a loyal supporter of Capitol Hill Democrats who often lent his name to legislation involving environmental issues. But he also fought for federal funding for projects within the 4th District, and earlier this year, he was successful in getting $3.3 million in Community Project Funding for two projects in Petersburg — $2.
Early in the discussions about new names, McEachin ardently pushed for Fort Lee to be renamed after retired Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg, at one time the highest-ranked military officer of color in the United States. Gregg began his military career at the then-segregated Fort Lee and later was regarded as a leading expert in Army logistics, including the Quartermaster service so prominent at Fort Lee.
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