October 3, 2006                   

CONTACT:    Sean Brickell, APR

757.463.4500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:        

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON

INDUCTED INTO VIRGINIA LEGENDS WALK

Ninth United States President Becomes

Virginia Legends Walk’s 32nd Inductee

VIRGINIA BEACH , Va. – William Henry Harrison today became the 32^nd Virginian honored by the Commonwealth’s Virginia Legends Walk as the Class of 2006.  He is the last of the eight Virginia-born U.S. Presidents to be inducted.

Harrison was born in Charles City County , Virginia in 1773. 

Harrison achieved numerous national accomplishments.  He was responsible for attaining nearly 50 million acres of land from treaties with Native American tribes.  This ultimately resulted in a rebellion by Indian leader Tecumseh and led to the Battle of Tippecanoe, which made Harrison a national hero of the War of 1812.

Harrison served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.  He was the Ambassador to Columbia .

Harrison was the first elected Whig Party candidate, as ninth President of the United States .  In 1841, he was the first president to die in office.               

Harrison was among 39 eligible Virginians qualified this year for Virginia Legends Walk.  Hundreds of nominations from around the world were submitted.  Ballots were sent to a statewide network of almost 800 judges, including college and university presidents, heads of historical societies and museums, history professors, librarians and news media representatives. 

All voting went directly to the auditing firm of KPMG, Virginia Beach , for independent tally.

Harrison received 56% of the total votes for candidates

The Top Five runners-up in this year’s election included Triple-Crown winner Secretariat (49.3%), CBS anchor Katie Couric (48%), colonist John Rolfe and author Tom Wolf (both 44%).

Rounding out the Top Ten were actor George C. Scott, explorer William Clark, oceanographic innovator Matthew Fontaine Maury, country music superstars The Statler Brothers, and author William Styron. 

Virginia Beach officials estimate that hundreds of thousands of resort visitors and area residents have toured Virginia Legends Walk since its introduction in 1999.  The Walk was created as a permanent living monument to honor great Virginians and is located one block from the Virginia Beach oceanfront at 13th Street .

Virginia Legends Walk has eight U.S. Presidents (from George Washington to Woodrow Wilson), five celebrated generals, nine internationally known musicians, and other key historical figures from the Commonwealth.

A complete list and bios of those honored can be found online at va-legends.com.  Nominations are now being accepted for the 2007 candidates by completing the online application (also at va-legends.com) or by calling 800.333.6397.

Virginia Legends Walk honors Virginians by birth or residence, who have made significant contributions to the nation and the world.

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