Yorktown University was founded in Norfolk, Virginia, about thirty miles from the historic battlefield at the little village of Yorktown, Virginia. This University’s name and its logo are taken from Yorktown where the Continental Congress commissioned a monument to commemorate the American victory over the British in 1781.
At the top of that monument is the goddess of victory. That image has inspired all of us at Yorktown University and many others living within an hour’s visit of Battlefield National Park.
Not the least was Pete Decker, an influential attorney and philanthropist whose good deeds touched the lives of everyone he met—and many he never met. Pete Decker passed away today at age 76. http://hamptonroads.com/2012/02/norfolk-attorney-judge-peter-g-decker-jr-dies
That Pete was a character, a bit flamboyant, and colorful didn’t hurt his image because in the South, we love our characters. Starting Yorktown University with little financing required that I drive far and wide to meet with prospective investors. Sometimes I drove to Richmond, Virginia or even Baltimore, Maryland to catch a low cost flight to places too distant to drive. Pete Decker realized that local airfares were high and were a drag on the local economy. When he learned that Southwest Airlines was considering a regional hub, he called the president of Southwest and sang a song extolling the virtues of Norfolk, Virginia. Apparently Southwest's president felt some kinship with the fella singing a song and Norfolk now is graced by hundreds of low cost Southwest Airline flights.
In his younger days, Pete was a cabaret singer—a good one—and he could be persuaded to sing for you if he thought you needed a little joy in your life. That’s how he met Danny Thomas with whom he forged a lifelong friendship and deep ties to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Both Pete Decker and Danny Thomas were of Syrian Lebanese descent, and that helped grow their friendship. That explains the little Middle Eastern deli in one of his buildings in downtown Norfolk. But, Pete’s love for children and desire to help the little ones who are suffering inspired him to do as much as he could for St. Jude’s. I remember when he spoke of a visit he took to St. Jude’s with local radio personality, Randy Rader. Pete said that after their tour, when they were leaving St. Jude’s, he and Randy looked at one another and both bawled like babies.
Pete was an emotional man and he wasn’t afraid to express his emotions. The last time I saw him was at a Christmas party. He greeted my wife with a hug, and grabbed me, too, in a big hug. Pete was also a distinguished member of the bar and served as a municipal judge when needed. Countless numbers of citizens needed his legal services—including yours truly.
Like most states in the South, the Old Dominion prides itself in its police, sheriffs and state troopers. On those long drives on behalf of Yorktown University across the state of Virginia I met many of those fine officers. And I would dutifully traipse into Pete Decker’s office and retain the legal services of his firm in challenging their judgment.
I remember one night after a long drive from New York, I arrived about four blocks from my house. The area had been cleaned up by the City’s redevelopment authority and there wasn’t a house or apartment building in sight. But, there was a sign that read “25 Miles per Hour” and a police car manned by a police officer with a radar gun. Of course, I was driving at a speed much faster than 25 miles per hour. I don’t mind accepting speeding citations on highways, but this area was simply filled with vacant lots, and the lone patrolman figured he could entrap some fool who thought he could drive 45 in a 25 mile per hour zone.
That I was entrapped was so evident I went to court without benefit of counsel and was duly convicted. When I told the clerk I would appeal the judgment, the local judge’s head whipped around. Apparently he never thought anyone would second guess him. Off to Pete I went and my next appearance was in criminal court! Yes, in Virginia they don’t mess around. You appeal a judgment and you’ll find yourself in criminal court! I like to remark that Virginia state troopers have radar guns, real guns, and Sidewinder missiles. Why waste time? This is the Old Dominion. I have a number of such stories all of which were aided and abetted by Pete Decker’s excellent legal staff.
In his final days, Pete Decker struggled tenaciously with cancer that he attributed to taking up smoking when he was younger. That battle was described by Virginian Pilot reporter, Harry Minium, and generated an outpouring of condolences from local citizens. http://hamptonroads.com/2011/06/peter-g-decker-jr-changed-man
This morning the entire Hampton Roads community and the state of Virginia is mourning the loss of its favorite son, Pete Decker. And, I’m going drive much slower from now on.
