Officers

After graduating from William Fleming High School in Roanoke, Virginia, Angriess received an athletic scholarship to attend Virginia Union University. He played cornerback on the undefeated 1973 CIAA Championship Football Team, which was inducted into the Virginia Union University Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2021. A proud alumnus, he graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/ Social Work and a Minor in Criminal Justice.

He is a founding member of the Burning Sands Alumni Football Foundation and serves as its third president. Under his leadership, the organization has grown into a well-respected body of support to our Alma Mater. Burning Sands is the very first affinity sports organization in the history of Virginia Union University to set up an Endowment Fund to provide scholarships for football players.

Angriess feels blessed beyond measure because Virginia Union University afforded him the opportunity of a lifetime. By God’s Grace, VUU allowed him to meet his college sweetheart, his wife, Shelia Harris Scott.

Additionally, he thanks God for Virginia Union University providing a unique and outstanding educational experience that prepared him for life and a successful professional career.

A student-athlete at Virginia Union University, Tillar played Linebacker with a group that was coached by the Legendary Jessie (BAD NEWS) Chavis, and became known as “The Wrecking Crew” (Waverly Tillar, Damon Dreher, Vincent Eley, Roger Reed). While playing that position throughout his college career, the group was Nationally recognized as one of the top Defenses in the Nation. In 1973, the defense posted Six shutouts en route to an undefeated season and the first CIAA CHAMPIONSHIP in Fifty Years! During that time in history, the NCAA refused to let VUU in the play-offs.

After earning his B.A. in Sociology from Virginia Union, Tillar  coached for 38 years. He coached high school at both Clifton Forge, Virginia, and Patrick Henry in Ashland Virginia. He also coached linebackers and defensive backs at his alma mater, Virginia Union University, Virginia State University, and served thirteenth season as Head Coach at Elizabeth City State University.

Throughout his tenure, Tillar was Assistant Superintendent at Henrico Juvenile Detention Home.

Tillar earned his master’s degree in Urban Affairs from Norfolk State University.

Growing up in Richmond, Jackie’s early exposure to Virginia Union University was through learning of the school’s prominence in the civil rights movement. 

As an Armstrong High School cheerleader, Jackie spent countless football Friday nights at Hovey Field, and many nights at Barco-Stevens Hall during basketball season. As a parent, she volunteered numerous Saturday mornings at VUU in The Kenan Project, a college-bound program for high school students.

Jackie’s professional career spanned over 40 years, 37 of those with Richmond Public Schools, from where she retired as Executive Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent of Schools.

Baptized at Fourth Baptist Church as a child, Jackie is a founding member of New Kingdom Christian Ministries, where she maintains the church’s marquee and coordinates voter registration, voter education, and restoration of rights drives.

In addition to Secretary of the Burning Sands Alumni Football Foundation, she is President of the North Avenue Library Senior Book Club.

The younger sister of two brothers who are VUU alumni, Jackie received her bachelor’s degree, graduating cum laude, from Virginia State University.

James is a native of Charleston, South Carolina, and graduated from Virginia Union University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

He is a member of the 1973 Virginia Union University Championship Football Team. James holds the record at Virginia Union for the longest interception return of 106 yards.

In addition to being Treasurer of the Burning Sands Alumni Football Foundation, James is the current President of the John W. Barco Alumni Chapter of Virginia Union University; President of the Virginia Pond of the Honorable Order of the Blue Goose International; and Worshipful Master of St. James Lodge #5.

James is semi-retired and serves as a Claims Consultant with Hausch & Company of Elgin, Illinois, having retired with  41 years in the Insurance Industry.

James’s motto  – “Keep God in Everything You Do.”

A native of Amelia County, Virginia, Connie graduated from Amelia High School in 1975. That same year, she attended Virginia Union University, where she played basketball and softball for four years. She graduated from Virginia Union University in 1979, cum laude, with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

In the fall of 1979, she enrolled at Howard University to pursue a master’s degree in Physiology. Finding research to be much slower than expected, she decided to return to Virginia to attend the VCU School of Nursing, where she graduated in May 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

After working nine years at the Veterans Administration Hospital, she decided to join the USAF Nurse Corps, where she traveled the world for over 25 years until she retired in June 2019 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

She now spends her time as an entrepreneur with PlanNet Marketing, caring for her mother, substitute teaching, coaching high school softball and basketball, attending NAACP meetings, participating in community service projects, and serving as Commander of Post 8759, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Amelia, Virginia.

She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Motto: Don’t just survive. THRIVE!

Ed Gates was born and raised in Richmond, and is a product of Richmond Public Schools, where he graduated from John F. Kennedy High School.

He graduated from Virginia Union University with honors in academics and athletics, and is a 2016 Inductee into the Richmond Public Schools Athletic Hall of Fame for Armstrong-Kennedy High School.

He is a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he served during the Vietnam era.  

Gates is married with one son and attends Moore Street Baptist Church, where he sings in three choirs, is a member of the security team, and is involved with church youth in various athletic and co-ed activities.

He has 37 years’ experience in the Justice Services field. He is currently employed with the Department of Justice Services of the City of Richmond.

Gates has extensive background in self-defense, and in training behavior management skills/restraint and street fighting techniques. He is owner and creator of the Crisis Wave Behavior Management System.  

He loves team sports, ping pong, self-defense, and working with youth with behavior issues.

Rev. Ulysess Edward Turner, Jr., a native of Kilmarnock, Virginia, is Pastor of Beulah Baptist Church in Lively, Virginia. He is a member of the Panthers’ 1986 CIAA championship team. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences, and a Master of Divinity degree.  

He is a United States Marine who served during Operation Desert Storm. He is a recipient of the Naval Achievement Medal and  National Defense Service Medal. He spent 20 years as an educator in Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina.

Rev. Turner served as football coach at Morehouse College, Norfolk State University, and at several high schools. He was the first black head football coach in Lancaster County, Virginia, and Greenville County, South Carolina.

He is Program Director of Empowering Youth for Positive Change and serves on several boards, including the YMCA, Prison Reentry Council, EMPOWER, Lead Northern Neck, and is President of 2^nd Chances Ministries.

Rev. Turner is married to Jean Turner. They have five children: Christopher, Kamron, Christian, Caim, and Chase.

A native Richmonder, Lamont was educated in the Richmond Public Schools, graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Union University, where he played wide receiver.

Lamont worked at Virginia Union as an assistant coach for receivers and special teams, and is a past Vice President of the Jessie Chavis Scholarship Fund.  He is an inductee into the Thomas Jefferson High School 2017 Athletic Hall of Fame.

A veteran of the United States Army, he also served with the Virginia National Guard.

Lamont is a Life Member of the Burning Sands Alumni Football Foundation, and is an enthusiastic philatelist. He officiates high school football games through the Central Virginia Football Officials Association, and is an instructor and inspector of boxing, wrestling, and martial arts with the state’s Professional and Occupational Regulation department.

Lamont is a member of First African Baptist Church. Retired from the federal government, he currently works part-time for the Henrico County Schools transportation of special needs kids.