Picture and caption courtesy of Farmville Herald

R. R. Moton Museum board of directors president, Carl U. Eggleston, displays a sample of the Moton Museum license plate available from the state. (Photo by Ken Woodley)

By KEN WOODLEY at the Farmville Herald.

      FARMVILLE - 007.
      A license to contribute.
      Even if your name is not Bond.
      The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation this year that puts Moton Museum fundraising and recognition in motion with a special license plate.
      The Museum, notes board president Call U. Eggleston, has until December 31 to receive 350 prepaid applications for the special license plate, which bears the image of the civil rights in education museum.
      "I was contacted by Carl last year about the possibility of getting a special license plate," House of Delegates member Watkins M. Abbitt, Jr., explained Tuesday morning.
      To the independent delegate from Appomattox, a license plate honoring the Moton Museum seemed a natural.
"We recognize wildlife with some license plates. We recognize Virginia colleges with others," Del. Abbitt said. 'This will be a nice way to recognize the museum."
And raise money for the museum.
      "It's a win-win situation," Eggleston said Monday of the license plate's dual purpose.
      The Robert Russa Moton Museum license plate Is one of Virginia's revenue license plates, raising funds for a designated cause associated with the plate.
      "Once 350 license plates are paid for," Eggleston noted, "the Moton Museum will receive a portion of the fees per plate for every plate and every renewal."
      The museum has another six weeks to achieve the 350-plate goal.
      "The license has a two-fold purpose," Del. Abbitt stressed. "To raise money for the museum and to raise recognition, on vehicles, around the state."
      Once the 350-llcense threshold has been reached, a significant portion of each additional license plate sold or renewed will be sent by the state to the museum, which is a National Landmark.
      Letters have been mailed by the museum to area residents with information about the special license plates and asking for support. The mailer also contains a DMV Personalized or Special Interest License Plate Application to make it easier to apply.
      Applicants can complete the DMV license plate application, Eggleston points out, and return it to the museum with a check made payable to the R. R. Moton Museum - $25 per plate or $35 for a personalized license plate.
      The Moton Museum logo on the license plate can be on the left or right side of the plate, or centered, and two to six characters, or letters, can be used for a personalized plate.
      "The museum has worked diligently to get enough people signed up to get the license plate issued," said Del. Abbitt.
      Eggleston urged anyone with a question or interest in the Moton Museum license plate to call him at 434-392-3191 or email him at carlsr@carlueggleston. com .*
       The Moton Museum is the site of a 1951 strike by black students against separate and unequal facilities, which precipitated Virginia's subsequent Inclusion in the landmark Brown v. Board Supreme Court decision In 1954 outlawing segregated public schools.

* For additional information please contact the Moton Museum:
E-mail:  Administration     Telephone: - 434 - 315 - 8775