Joshua Warren White, Jr., was born in Norfolk, Virginia on August 27, 1916. Of Scottish and Swiss descent, White is the son of Joshua Warren White, M.D., and Emily Johnston White. White graduated from Maury High School in Norfolk in 1935 and attended Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia for three years. After leaving college, White was called to duty by the United States Navy and was given a commission as an Ensign. He served for four and a half years during World War II and was discharged as a Lieutenant Commander. On August 31, 1940, he married Dorothy Lee Winstead of Norfolk with whom he had four children. White was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1961 where he served for 18 years. He was Chairman of the Privileges and Elections Committee and also served on the Appropriations, Rules, Chesapeake and Its Tributaries, and Interstate Cooperation Committees. Several of the major pieces of legislation that White introduced became law. Among them are the complete reorganization of the Virginia Milk Commission, creation of The Eastern Virginia Medical Authority, which led to the formation of The Eastern Virginia Medical School, and legislation that provided $5,333 per student per year (1974) in state funds for all students attending the School. He also sponsored legislation appropriating $450,000 in 1976 to be used for Family Practice at Eastern Virginia Medical School. During the 1978 session of the legislature, he was largely responsible for having $4.5 million per biennium appropriated for indigent care costs to all hospitals in Tidewater that were teaching institutions for the Medical School. Also, he sponsored legislation that created a state scholarship fund for students attending private institutions of higher learning in Virginia. In addition to his service as a Virginia Delegate, White led an active business, civic and social life. In business, White served as President and Treasurer of the Old Dominion Paper Company. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Norfolk State University; the Medical Center Hospitals; the United Community Fund; Virginia National Bank, Norfolk Board; and the Edgewater-Turney Home for Boys and Girls. White also served on the Board of Trustees of Mary Baldwin College; the Tidewater Development Council; and the Jamestown Foundation. He was President (1946) of the Young Democratic Clubs of Virginia, and a member of the Second District Democratic Committee and the State Central Democratic Committee. White attended the First Presbyterian Church in Norfolk where he was a member of the Board of Deacons. He was also a member of the Princess Anne Country Club, Norfolk Yacht & Country Club, Norfolk German Club and the Commonwealth Club of Richmond, Virginia. White died at the age of 69 in November, 1985.

Note written by Special Collections Staff