THE DIGITAL REPOSITORY FOR THE BLACK EXPERIENCE
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Andrew Heidelberg
Maker interview details
Interviews
- May 13, 2010
- May 10, 2010
Profession
- Category:
CivicMakers
- Occupation(s):
Banker
Civic Leader
Cultural Heritage Lecturer
Birthplace
- Born: November 6, 1943
- Birth Location: Norfolk, Virginia
Favorites
- Favorite Color: Blue
- Favorite Food: Seafood
- Favorite Time of Year: Fall
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Bermuda
Favorite Quote
"Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance."
Biography
Norfolk 17 member Andrew Heidelberg was born on November 6, 1943 in Norfolk, Virginia to Lena and Colonal Heidelberg. After desegregation rulings by federal judges in 1957 and 1959 against a fight led by Governor J. Lindsay Almond, Heidelberg began his education at Norview High School, five years after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling Brown v. Board of Education. At the age of fourteen, Heidelberg joined sixteen other African Americans selected out of the 151 who had applied to attend all-white schools. Split between three junior high and three high schools, The Norfolk 17 started Norfolk’s schools’ integration efforts in Virginia. In 1961 during his senior year, Heidelberg made the school football team and was the first African American to play varsity football at an all-white public school in Virginia and in the South. That same year, his team won the Eastern District championship for the State of Virginia and brought together black and white families alike.
In 1967, Heidelberg entered the banking industry and worked at Industrial National Bank of Providence, Rhode Island. He became the bank’s first African American Branch Manager, Credit Officer, and Commercial Loan Officer before he left in 1976 to found Heidelberg, Clary & Associates, Inc. After the firm closed, Heidelberg worked at Barclays Bank of New York and Banco de Ponce-New York as a Vice President and Corporate Manager. In 2001, Heidelberg graduated from Norfolk State University with his B.S. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. He went on to serve as Assistant Treasurer and Chief Deputy Treasurer for the City of Hampton in 2003. He returned to Norview High School in 2009 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of “Massive Resistance” in Virginia.
Heidelberg was selected by Governor Mark Warner in 2005 to serve a two-year term as a member of the Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Awards Committee. He was appointed to serve two additional consecutive two-year terms (through 2011) by Governor Tim Kaine. In 2006 he published his story in the book The Norfolk 17: A Personal Narrative on Desegregation in Norfolk, Virginia in 1958-1962. Heidelberg also finished writing a screenplay in 2009 based on the book The Colored Halfback scheduled for publication in 2010.
Heidelberg passed away on July 6, 2015 at the age of 71.
Andrew Heidelberg was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on May 10, 2010.
Previews from the Digital Archive
Watch the full interview in the Digital Archive
- Slating of Andrew Heidelberg's interview, session 1
- Andrew Heidelberg lists his favorites
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his mother's family background
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls his mother's upbringing
- Andrew Heidelberg talks about his father's name
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his father's family background
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls his father's talents
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his paternal grandmother's family background
- Andrew Heidelberg talks about the origin of his father's first name
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his paternal grandmother's murder
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls how his parents met
- Andrew Heidelberg talks about his father's occupation
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his parents' personalities
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his earliest childhood memory
- Andrew Heidelberg talks about medical care available to African Americans in Norfolk, Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his childhood homes
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls his jobs as a young boy
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his personality as a young boy
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls attending school at Bank Street Baptist Church in Norfolk, Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg remembers moving to Chesapeake Manor in Norfolk, Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls attending Oakwood Elementary School in Norfolk, Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his desire to excel academically
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls the discipline at Oakwood Elementary School
- Andrew Heidelberg remembers how he came to join the Norfolk 17, pt. 1
- Andrew Heidelberg remembers how he came to join the Norfolk 17, pt. 2
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls the organizing efforts of Evelyn T. Butts
- Andrew Heidelberg describes segregation in Norfolk, Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls the selection of the Norfolk 17
- Andrew Heidelberg talks about the admission process for Norview High School in Norfolk, Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls his mother's advice about interacting with white students
- Andrew Heidelberg remembers the closing of public schools in Norfolk, Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls his nonviolence training from the NAACP
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his fear of desegregating Norview High School in Norfolk, Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg talks about the emotional toll of desegregating Norview High School
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls adapting to an integrated school environment
- Andrew Heidelberg describes the effects of school closings in Norfolk, Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls the segregationist leadership in Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls the reopening of public schools in Norfolk, Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg remembers walking to Norview High School on his first day
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls arriving at Norview High School on his first day
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his first day at Norview High School
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls meeting a sympathetic student
- Andrew Heidelberg remembers the African American workers at Norview High School
- Andrew Heidelberg talks about his lunch period at Norview High School in Norfolk, Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg describes Norview High School's football history
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls his isolation at Norview High School in Norfolk, Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his treatment at Norview High School
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls playing intramural sports at Norview High School
- Andrew Heidelberg remembers trying out for Norview High School's football team
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls being rejected from the football team
- Andrew Heidelberg describes the Church of God and Saints of Christ in Norfolk, Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls joining the football team at Norview High School in Norfolk, Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg talks about the dehumanizing rumors about African Americans
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls desegregation of Norview High School football games
- Andrew Heidelberg describes integration at Norview High School
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls the fifty-year reunion of the Norfolk 17
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his football career with Norview High School
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls playing football in Prince Edward County, Virginia, pt. 1
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls playing football in Prince Edward County, Virginia, pt. 2
- Andrew Heidelberg remembers a racist encounter in a white community
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls discriminatory refereeing during a football game
- Andrew Heidelberg describes the erasure of Virginia's desegregation history
- Andrew Heidelberg explains why he shares the history of the Norfolk 17
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls his academics at Norview High School in Norfolk, Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his good grades at Norfolk State College in Norfolk, Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls his decision to attend Norfolk State College
- Slating of Andrew Heidelberg's interview, session 2
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls his reasons for attending Norfolk State College in Norfolk, Virginia, pt. 1
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls his reasons for attending Norfolk State College in Norfolk, Virginia, pt. 2
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his college football contemporaries
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls his motivations at Norfolk State College
- Andrew Heidelberg remembers his football career at Norfolk State College
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his academic experiences at Norfolk State College
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls being recruited to the Rhode Island Steelers
- Andrew Heidelberg remembers joining the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls his experiences at the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp
- Andrew Heidelberg remembers his teammates on the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Andrew Heidelberg talks about leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Andrew Heidelberg reflects upon his unusual name
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls working at Industrial National Bank in Providence, Rhode Island
- Andrew Heidelberg describes a problematic advertising campaign at Industrial National Bank
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls helping to apprehend a bank robber
- Andrew Heidelberg talks about improving the diversity of an advertising campaign at Industrial National Bank
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls asking to join the managerial training program at Industrial National Bank
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls being accepted to Industrial National Bank's management program
- Andrew Heidelberg talks about his promotion to branch manager
- Andrew Heidelberg describes the history of Industrial National Bank
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls managing a bank branch in Cranston, Rhode Island
- Andrew Heidelberg talks about his experiences in the credit department at Industrial National Bank
- Andrew Heidelberg remembers his mentor, Arthur Lowenthal
- Andrew Heidelberg describes the prejudice against his mentor, Arthur Lowenthal
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls his plan to start his own business
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls partnering with Anderson W. Clary, Jr.
- Andrew Heidelberg remembers founding Heidelberg, Clary and Associates, Inc.
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls the aid of the Jimmy Carter Administration
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his earliest contracts with Heidelberg, Clary and Associates, Inc.
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls being hired at Barclays Bank of New York
- Andrew Heidelberg describes the racial demographics of Barclays Bank of New York
- Andrew Heidelberg talks about his experiences at Barclays Bank of New York
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls leaving Barclays Bank of New York
- Andrew Heidelberg remembers joining Banco de Ponce
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls investing in the film 'First Blood'
- Andrew Heidelberg remembers his client, Dr. Michael Truppin
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls leaving Banco de Ponce
- Andrew Heidelberg talks about his return to Rhode Island
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls returning to Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg remembers working at Beacon at the Crossroads in Hampton, Virginia
- Andrew Heidelberg recalls publishing his first book
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his second book, 'The Colored Halfback'
- Andrew Heidelberg talks about his hopes for his books
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his concerns for the African American community
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his hopes for the African American community
- Andrew Heidelberg reflects upon his life
- Andrew Heidelberg reflects upon his legacy, pt. 1
- Andrew Heidelberg remembers the death of his brother
- Andrew Heidelberg reflects upon his legacy, pt. 2
- Andrew Heidelberg describes his family
- Andrew Heidelberg talks about The HistoryMakers
- Andrew Heidelberg talks about his religious faith
- Andrew Heidelberg describes how he would like to be remembered