Sheriff Dana Lawhorne Receives Key To Del Ray
The Del Ray Business Association presented the surprise award to Lawhorne on Monday, June 17.
Alexandria, VA – Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne has devoted his life to the safety and security of the Port City and its residents, and on Monday, June 17, he received a small token of appreciation. The Del Ray Business Association, along with colleagues and friends surprised Lawhorne with the Key to Del Ray in recognition of his 40 years in law enforcement in Alexandria.
“I never really got into this business because of politics,” said Lawhorne after receiving the key at Del Ray United Methodist Church. “It was about trying to serve a community that I grew up in, that took care of me. I always felt the right thing to do was find myself in the position where I could take care of others.”
Alexandria City Councilor Del Pepper said that Lawhorne has made a positive impact on the city.
“On behalf of the city, if you want to know what makes a city strong, what makes Alexandria very special, it’s because we have people like this,” Pepper said. “Whatever the cause is, whatever the need is, he is the first to get there and make sure that he does everything he can. So, we are truly blessed as a city and as your community to have such a wonderful, wonderful person.”
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Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne at the Del Ray Business Association’s dedication of the key of Del Ray to Lawhorne, June 17, 2019. (Photo by Griffin Vision)
Gayle Reuter, a DRBA board member, met Lawhorne 30 years ago, and said that he arranges crews to clean Mount Vernon Avenue, attends every community event possible and is the first person at the scene of an emergency.
“He grew up here and he loved Del Ray, and thank goodness he never left,” Reuter said. “No matter what, any tough time we went through, always one of the first people you would see on the avenue, making you feel safe, making you feel like everything was going to be okay is Dana. He’s always here, and that’s family and community.”
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John Porter, the longtime former principal at T.C. Williams High School, was Lawhorne’s teacher in the seventh grade at Parker Gray Middle School.
“He never got through social studies in the seventh grade, and therefore we have to take back his diploma,” Porter joked. “It’s been my pleasure knowing him when he was about that big and teaching him in seventh grade, which he didn’t pass, by the way.”
Lawhorne, who is serving his fourth term as sheriff, has said that he will continue in the work as long as the city keeps electing him. He said that his wife, Linda, deserves the credit for raising their three daughters, and that he did the smart thing by marrying up.
“I’ve had the best seat in the house through everything that I have ever done,” he said. “I love doing what I do. It’s been great. I wouldn’t change a thing. I feel so blessed and lucky.”
