CHATHAM, Va. – Pittsylvania County leaders gathered Monday for a ceremony to dedicate the newly renamed Clyde L. Banks, Sr. Memorial Bridge on 29 Business in Chatham.

A Chatham native, Banks operated the Travelers Inn in Chatham for nearly 40 years. During the Civil Rights movement, Banks was jailed during a sit-in in Danville, helped many African-Americans find work, lobbied to get black people hired as Sheriff’s Deputies, and fought to ingrate schools and secure equal salaries for black and white teachers.

Banks was also very active in the Pittsylvania County branch of the NAACP, serving as its president for many years. He is also a veteran of the United States Navy.

The Board of Supervisors passed a resolution in January in support of renaming the bridge, and the Commonwealth Transportation Board approved the change several months later.

Many members of the Banks family traveled to Chatham to attend the dedication ceremony.

Clyde Banks Jr. spoke and received a copy of the bridge sign. “From the family, we appreciate this,” said his son. “If my dad were here, he wouldn’t want any of this, but at this point in time I think he would appreciate the outreach and outpouring of love from the community.”