Oliver R. H. Singleton
Photo Credit: Boomer Magazine
About Richmond's Honorary Street Name Designations
Honorary street names can be found throughout Richmond, and are intended to memorialize individuals for their civic, cultural, humanitarian, or historically significant contributions to the Richmond Community. These designations typically apply to a portion of a street, such as a city block, and are designated by Richmond City Council via the passing of an Ordinance. Honorary street names do not replace the existing name of a street and do not require an alteration to maps or addresses.
Oliver R. H. Singleton
A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Oliver Rodney Hunt Singleton relocated to Richmond in the 1970s and began a career in finance. He was the first African American stockbroker employed at the Richmond branch of Merrill Lynch.
Starting in 2003, Oliver R. H. Singleton served for 13 years as the president and chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Business League, a nonprofit association that for more than 50 years has been dedicated to the development and expansion of small, women- and minority-owned businesses. During his tenure with the Metropolitan Business League, Mr. Singleton served in a variety of capacities for its 150 member-businesses including the drafting of business plans, conducting seminars, and serving as a mentor and advisor to many Richmond entrepreneurs. He also served on the executive boards of a wide range of organizations throughout his career, including the Richmond Ambulance Authority, Richmond Sportsbackers, Venture Richmond, Inc., and the Reginald F. Lewis School of Business at Virginia State University.
In addition to his business career, Oliver R. H. Singleton was also a public servant. In 1991, Mr. Singleton was appointed to briefly fill a vacancy on Richmond City Council when then-mayor Henry L. Marsh III was elected to the Virginia Senate. After his term as Interim Councilmember, Mr. Singleton was appointed to serve on several Richmond City Council Boards and Commissions over the years, including the Greater Richmond Transit GRTC and Transit Study Task Force; Minority Business Enterprise and Emerging Small Business Advisory Board; Richmond Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau; Industrial Development Authority of the City of Richmond (served as director); Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (five years as chair); and, the Richmond Retirement System. In addition, Mr. Singleton in the administrations of Virginia Governors Mark Warner and Jim Gilmore as the Deputy Director of the Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise.
Oliver R. H. Singleton earned many awards and accolades for his work, including the Virginia Minority Business Champion of 2010 Award from the United States Small Business Administration; the 2011 Economic Empowerment Award by the Richmond NAACP; and being named to the It List in the December 2011-January 2012 issue of Boomer magazine.
Following his death on April 13, 2016, at the age of 62, Oliver R. H. Singleton was recognized by the Virginia General Assembly by Senate Joint Resolution SJ347 for the positive contributions made to Richmond and the Commonwealth of Virginia throughout his life.
Designation Area:
The 2700 block of East Grace Street has been given the honorary designation of Oliver R. H. Singleton Street.
Download the Council Ordinance:
Learn more about this Honorary Street Designation by downloading a copy of the legislation. The Council Ordinance below is in PDF format:
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