Tag: Alabama

Gayle Manchin Discharged From Hospital, Driver Apprehended After Car Accident

Gayle Manchin, ARC federal co-chair and wife of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., was released from the hospital Wednesday following a Monday car crash in Alabama.

Gayle Manchin, federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and wife of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, was released from an Alabama hospital on Wednesday following a Monday car crash.

Manchin and Guy Land, ARC congressional liaison, were heading to an ARC event in Birmingham, Alabama when a driver fleeing police struck their vehicle.

Police officers allegedly attempted to stop the driver, Tradarryl Rishad Boykins, in relation to a felony warrant and traffic offense, al.com reported Wednesday. Boykins attempted to evade the officers, resulting in a seven-minute car chase and the ensuing collision.

Boykins is now charged with two counts of felony assault, attempting to elude police and illegal possession of a firearm, the Associated Press reported. He is being held on a $2 million bond, and court records do not yet show whether he has legal representation.

After his wife’s discharge Wednesday, Sen. Manchin released a statement noting that she had returned to West Virginia to receive further care from family members.

“We want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support,” Manchin said.

Land is still receiving treatment at a hospital in Birmingham. In a Wednesday press release, the ARC said he “is continuing to receive excellent medical care” from staff at the medical facility.

March 7, 1942: Aviator Roberts Completes His Training at Tuskegee Institute

On March 7, 1942, aviator “Spanky” Roberts completed his training at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, becoming one of the first five Tuskegee Airmen.

Roberts, a native of London in eastern Kanawha County, moved to Fairmont as a child. He graduated from Fairmont’s segregated Dunbar High School before earning a degree in mechanical arts from West Virginia State College (now University). He went through the college’s Civilian Pilot Training Program and became the first black licensed pilot in the state.

After finishing at Tuskegee, Roberts entered combat in North Africa in May 1943. He eventually flew more than 100 combat missions in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. After the war, he became the senior Air Corps ROTC instructor at Tuskegee and also served in Korea and Okinawa. In 1963, he was assigned to Griffiss Air Force Base, where he was responsible for all ground radar in the Air Force. Roberts retired in 1968 with the rank of colonel.

“Spanky” Roberts was honored with the Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak clusters and two presidential citations. He died in California in 1984 at age 65.

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