Faith leaders and football/Virginia Union University football team chaplain, the Rev. Joe Ellison, right, gathers with honorees at the 4th Annual Washington Football Team/RVA Faith Leaders Luncheon on Monday at New Kingdom Christian Ministries on Dill Avenue in Highland Park. The luncheon was co-hosted by Rev. Ellison and the church’s senior pastor, Dr. Christopher Moore, left, to honor four Black College Football Hall of Famers. They are, beginning second from left, Virginia Union University Athletic Director Joe Taylor; former Washington Football Team quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams, who is now special adviser to the WFT president; Willie E. Lanier, former NFL Kansas City Chiefs player and Pro Football Hall of Famer whose stellar football career started at Maggie L. Walker High School in Richmond; and Coach Willard Bailey, who coached four Virginia teams during an illustrious career at VUU, Norfolk State University, the former St. Paul’s College and Virginia University of Lynchburg. Coach Bailey is the newest inductee in the Black College Football Hall of Fame; he was inducted in June. Joining the group also is the WFT Senior Team Chaplain Bishop Brett Fuller, second from right.
