Reginald Beverly at his 100th birthday celebration.
By Lisa Gattie
CP Correspondent
Mathematician, scientist, and historian Reginald Arthur Beverly celebrated 100 years of life on January 31. Born in Ruther Glen in 1915, family and friends of Beverly gathered at the Carmel School in Ruther Glen to celebrate the intriguing life of this impressive centenarian.
A World War II veteran, Beverly makes light of his lengthy list of life accomplishments. He was drafted in the Army Dec. 5, 1941, two days before Pearl Harbor, leaving behind a job teaching math and science at Union High School in Bowling Green. He served as a surveyor with the 95th Engineer Regiment. As part of this African-American-manned battalion, Beverly was sent to Canada in 1942 to use his mathematical skills to help build the Alaska-Canada (Alcan) Highway, now more commonly known as the Alaska Highway. He worked through rugged territory in often precarious conditions, calculating the width and placement of 300 miles of this road.
“At 40 below zero, you didn’t stay outside more than 20 minutes,” stated Beverly. “You had to manage with the weather the best you could.” Beverly recalled that while white soldiers stayed in barracks, black soldiers stayed in tents. “The frost was an inch thick on the inside of the tent,” Beverly said. “We stayed warm because we learned that the frost insulated the tent.”
“He considers his exploits with the Alcan Highway his greatest accomplishment,” stated Jerry Rollins, Beverly’s son-in-law.
It was many years later before Beverly and the other soldiers of the 95th and related units would see recognition for this toilsome work. Beverly is specifically featured in books such as “The Black Soldiers Who Built the Alaska Highway,” and “African Americans and WWII.” He is featured in a film documentary at Constitution Hall titled “African Americans in World War II: A Legacy of Patriotism and Valor.” His unit is recognized in the PBS documentary “Building the Alaska Highway.” A life-size statue of Beverly is at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
But Beverly is not a man seeking recognition.
“He looks for the positive in everything,” stated daughter Katrina Gill. “He never complains and always sees the best in everyone.”
When Beverly finished his work on the highway, he continued his surveying skills in battle-torn Germany rebuilding bombed bridges while in harm’s way. “The Germans used to run barbed wire across the road,” stated Beverly, calmly. “One of us had to break the wire so we could drive through without getting hurt.”
“He took the danger as a matter of fact,” stated Rollins. “He’s a tough customer.”
After returning home from the war, Beverly continued a life of teaching math and serving his community. He recalls driving school bus #25, arriving at school, and then teaching, an idea completely unheard of in today’s society. He tutored students and family members for years. He even tutored inmates at the jail.
“Math is so natural to him,” stated Gill. “He supported everyone in the school, in the community – everyone.”
Beverly credits his parents as being his inspiration not only for his love for math, but for his love for learning, a desire that he passed on to his three daughters who in turn passed it along to their children and grandchildren. The Beverly line has a legacy at Virginia State University.
Perhaps what is most remarkable about Beverly is the number of years he has volunteered his time to help others. He has served the Oxford Mt. Zion Baptist Church in numerous capacities for most of his life. He has also been active in a host of civic organizations where he continued his skills as a surveyor and an activist.
“He worked diligently with the NAACP in the county,” stated daughter Claudia Rollins. “He participated in a march with Joe Madison, marching 30 miles from Doswell to Fredericksburg.” Madison, known as “The Black Eagle,” a civil rights activist and talk show host on SiriusXM, led voter registration marches from 1984-1986. Madison remembered Beverly’s sacrifice and attended the birthday celebration.
In addition to Madison’s presence, Beverly was showered with an outpouring of gratitude at his birthday celebration.
But Beverly is still not a man seeking recognition.
This serene gentleman has given his family, his country, and his community his time, love, and expertise. How does he do it?
“Get some exercise, and don’t worry about anything,” stated Beverly.