Vincent Ridley:
CLASS OF 1987
Petersburg High SchoolClass of 1987
Petersburg, VA
Vincent's Story
When I started high school I was over shadowed by my brother Keith. It wasn't until after he graduated I began to establish my own identity A lot of people didn't know we were brothers and still today people are just relizing we are brothers. My junior & senior years in high school was the best. That's where I began to meet people from all over petersburg. I was from blandford. Sometimes we were also known as blandford boys all the boys were known as blandord boys. We didn't cause a lot of trouble we just walked everywhere, because non of our parents had cars. I marched in the band all through high school playing the drums I earned the nickname go-go vince. I was known for keeping the beat while others rapped in class. That's when I decided to start my own go go band "Double Effect" We didn't start it until our senior year so after graduation everyone went there own separate ways...... After high School I attended UDC as a Criminal Law major minoring in criminology. I wanted to study the how & why's of crime. I stayed in school for 2 1/2 yrs before I moved to Atlanta with the Postal Service. I stayed in Atlanta for 6 yrs and started working in the hotel industry part time as a van driver with Inter-Continental Hotels. It was there where I begin to enjoy the hotel industry and quickly begin to learn the industry. I soon left the PO to do hotel work full time. I went from Van Driver to Front Desk Clerk, Supervisor & Manager in 2 yrs earning me my own hotel in Baltmore MD. I was 1 of 4 black African American GM's at the time. later I left Inter-Continental hotels to join Marriott International Hotels in which I am currently employed
I always wanted to be a commedian when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a crazy idea. As it turns out, they were right.
I blow off steam by listening to jazz in the dark
My inspiration comes from my great-grandmother she worked at the Walnut Hill Laundromat across from Walnut Hill School for over 30yrs washing clothes for white folks and keeping the place clean. She did it not because she wanted to, because she had to. she sacrific...Expand for more
ed hard for Keith & myself. She always told us be kind to everyone, treat people how you wanted to be treated and whatever it is in life you want to do you give it your all and be the best at it.
I love sports and I like reality TV. I have audition for the Amazing Race with one of my friends from high school. I also audition for Deal or No Deal
If I won $100 million, I'd give 10% of it to my church village of faith, then spend the rest on family, friends and invest in the city of Petersburg to help with the economic struggle to create more jobs.
My current age is 39. When I was 12, I thought that people my age now would be mean & grouchey. I was so completely wrong.
My best friend would tell you I'm too nice, but people who don't know me very well would probably describe me as a funny energetic person who loves to party.
I like to keep up with the trend, but i'm a suit guy all week
The weirdest job I ever had was cleaning up the Capital Centre after the washington bullets & washington capitals game. If you could only imagine what beer & popcorn smells like mixed together
I share my home with my wife, which I find sometimes too crowded(lol).
If I could do one thing over it would be to finish school when I first started and walk across the stage
My best friend of 30+yrs is Rob Evans & David Evans we group up living next door to each other and I have never met two brothers that put the F in Friendhsips like these guys have. They have been there for me in my lowest and darkest hours as well as celebrated my successess and have never judge me on my faults. They have been the same way since the day we all met
At our 20 year class reunion everyone was surprised that I finally gained some weight(lol) and that I was able to find so many classmates and keep continuous contact with them to attend our class reunion
My first job was at peoples drug store Walnut Mall, where I got paid 5.37 to be a cashier. What I remember most about it is that everyone I knew from Blandford would begin to shop there all of sudden for those super duper sometimes free discounts I would give(lol).
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