Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of six articles, each highlighting one of the 2024 inductees to the Franklin Community Wall of Excellence.

The Franklin Community Wall of Excellence gained six new names via its 2024 class.

Those names included Daniel T. Balfour, Dr. Amy K. Cheatham, James P. Councill III, Wyatt B. Durrette Jr., the late Charles “Chip” Fisher Kingery Jr., and Dr. Chiquita L. Seaborne.

The eighth annual Franklin Community Wall of Excellence Induction Dinner and Ceremony took place Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Cypress Cove Country Club.

As noted in the event’s program, through the vision of some local Franklin City Public Schools alumni and school personnel, the Franklin Community Wall of Excellence Inc. was established in 2016 as a program to honor former Franklin and Hayden high school students, administrators, teachers and staff who have excelled or distinguished themselves through personal and/or professional success, as well as to recognize those community members who have made significant contributions to the public schools in Franklin.

“The Wall” is located at Franklin High School, adjacent to the gymnasium, a Wall of Excellence news release stated. Names and photos of each inductee are displayed for generations of Franklin High School students and community members to see as they walk by on their way to class or an event at FHS.

DANIEL T. BALFOUR

Balfour was inducted onto the Wall of Excellence in the category of Outstanding Career.

Clyde Parker introduced Balfour at the induction dinner and ceremony, noting that Balfour was born in Newport News but grew up in the Franklin-Southampton County area.

Parker explained that Balfour graduated from Franklin High School in 1959, and the induction dinner and ceremony printed program stated that Balfour was a member of the first class that was required to go to school for 12 years to receive a high school diploma, as opposed to the previous requirement of 11 years.

Parker stated that Balfour earned the rank of Eagle Scout in Boy Scout Troop 17, sponsored by High Street United Methodist Church in Courtland.

Balfour graduated from Washington and Lee University and its law school, and the printed program noted that he earned his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees in law.

Parker said that Balfour served in the U.S. Army, earning the rank of captain, and he was awarded the U.S. Army Commendation Medal.

The printed program stated that after practicing law successfully for 37 years, Balfour was appointed as the chief judge of Henrico County Circuit Court. He also served as a mediator for the Supreme Court of Virginia, and he was a former counsel to the Virginia House of Delegates.

Balfour has served on a variety of different boards.

“Over the years, Dan served as chairman of the Henrico County Board of Zoning Appeals,” Parker stated. “He was vice rector of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Board of Visitors, and he was a member of the State Council of Higher Education.”

The printed program noted that Balfour also served on the boards of the American Civil War Center, the American Battlefields Trust, and the Stonewall Jackson Foundation.

Parker said that Balfour served on several boards at Washington and Lee University.

“Although Dan is now a resident of Richmond, he is always keeping strong ties to his home community — Franklin and Southampton,” Parker stated. “Through his mother’s side of the family, he is descended from the Gillette family, which extends back in the area for many generations. He has many cousins now residing in the area.”

Balfour has been vice president of the Southampton County Historical Society for more than 50 years, Parker said. During that time, Balfour has written three books about the county: 

• “Southampton County & Franklin – A Pictorial History”;
• “A History of Southampton County in the Civil War”; and
• “A History of the 13th Virginia Cavalry.”

Parker stated that Balfour is a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Richmond, and the printed program noted that at that church, he has been an active member of the Trust Board and the Administrative Board, and he has served as a Sunday School teacher and as an usher.

“Dan has always sought to leave his footprint in different areas of his life by becoming involved and helping to make a difference wherever he goes,” the printed program stated.

Parker noted that Balfour was joined at the induction dinner and ceremony by his wife and two daughters.

During his acceptance speech, Balfour thanked those involved in the Wall of Excellence for the honor, and he also reflected fondly on the small-town atmosphere and important people in the community that informed his upbringing.

He said he recalled that in Franklin, everybody was friendly.

“Everybody would speak to you whether you knew them or not,” he said.

In some cases, there were a variety of options to meet residents’ needs.

“If you needed a hammer, we had three hardware stores,” he said. 

He also emphasized how the small-town quality of Franklin was evident in the school system.

“If you got in trouble in school, your parents knew about it before you got home, because the teachers knew your parents,” he said, later adding, “There were things like that that kind of kept you in order.”

He underscored the significant influence that churches had, and he recalled going to the Methodist church in Franklin that had a minister who was blind, “but he knew the names of all those (who attended), and he’d recognize us when we showed up essentially by our voice.”

Balfour highlighted leaders who worked in the Boy Scouts and leaders who worked with youth in the community.

“We had some leaders in town who really cared about the young folks and made sure we had plenty to do and take care of us,” he said. “Many names that we all recognize now.”

At the conclusion of his remarks, he said, “Long story short — we were very lucky. Thank you.”