Thomas O’Brien Black

(“TOB” 9/1927 to 11/1931)

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Thomas O’Brien Black (1/4/1908 to 11/21/1982 (Mount Calvary Cemetery)) is not found in the City of Richmond Directories until 1927 when he is listed as employed as a draftsman at Charles M. Robinson residing at 3300 Park Avenue.  He initialed his first plans in September 1927.  1933 City Directories show him as an employee of J. Binford Walford.  1934 and 1935 directories show him as only “draftsman.”  In 1937 he became an architect with the National Park Service.  He enlisted in the army on February 16, 1943 and was a Warrant Officer in the Federal National Guard, but only served three months.  His WWII Draft Card states his next of kin as his Sister, with whom he lived at 309 Roseneath Road.  He listed his employment as with the National Park Service at 3rd and Grace in Richmond.  He married Lucille Hoy (5 years younger) on April 9, 1943 in Alexandria. 

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There is no Virginia Death Certificate for him.  In 1977, David Robinson spoke with and corresponded with Mr. Black who lived in Baltimore at the time.  There is no newspaper obituary that can be located.  He is buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Richmond.  Thomas O’Brien Black was a pallbearer at Charles M. Robinson’s funeral and appears in the February 1926 photo of the drafting room.