Rozier Hall honors former Army general, Richmond native

As Fort Lee's Rozier Hall opens its doors to train soldiers, it celebrates the life of one of Richmond's finest, the late Maj. Gen. Jackson E. Rozier Jr.

The $47 million building on a 6.5-acre site at the new Ordnance School campus honors the Richmond native and 1954 graduate of Armstrong High School who once served as deputy chief of staff for logistics for the Army in Europe. Rozier also was designated by former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder as a member of Virginia Heroes, a group that focuses on education for youth.

"He was passionate about every job, every task, every position he had," his widow, Joyce Rozier, said Nov. 20, the day the Army held the official ribbon cutting and dedication of the facility. "This is a state-of-the-art building. . . . He would be very proud."

Jackson Rozier was a sports lover who became captain of the basketball and football teams at Armstrong. His passion for sports continued at Baltimore's Morgan State College, where he received an undergraduate degree in education, and at Howard University, where he got his master's in education. While stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Rozier returned to Armstrong in 1982 to encourage students to pursue their dreams during a Black History Month celebration.

Rozier retired from the Army in 1990, and he died in 1994.

"We are paying honor and tribute to a great American, a great man and a great soldier," said Brig. Gen. Lynn A. Collyar, chief of ordnance for the Army. "As General Rozier traveled the world, he influenced a lot of people. His legacy is truly going to remain and be remembered here."

For Rozier to be honored at Fort Lee is extra special.

"Its kind of like coming back home," Joyce Rozier said. "It's nice that this building is so close to Richmond because there are still a lot of friends and, of course, family still live in Richmond, and I am sure they'll come visit or just drive by to see the name and to remember. It is such a legacy to him."

Contact Luz Lazo at (804) 649-6058 or .