Ed Brown's legacy

It was a nice gesture by Virginia International Terminals to halt work at its terminals for a minute of silence Thursday in honor of Edward  L. Brown Sr., the top International Longshoremen's Association leader in Hampton Roads, on the day of his funeral.

The observance was a mark of the respect that Mr. Brown earned from management counterparts as well as union colleagues during his long career on the Hampton Roads waterfront. Mr. Brown was a top ILA leader in the port for the last 35 years. Not entirely coincidentally, those also were the years when Virginia surpassed regional competitors to emerge as one of the nation's largest container ports. 

Geography and port leadership played big roles in that growth. So did Mr. Brown, with his level-headed leadership, ability to see beyond the moment and willingness to accept --  and participate in -- change. His efforts helped the Port of Virginia attract customers and cargo that produced jobs and benefits for his union's members.