Virginia Capitol Connections, 2025 Annual Magazine 10 A Transformer of Southside Delegate Danny Marshall By DELEGATE TERRY KILGORE When the General Assembly convenes in January 2026, there will be a mix of new and old faces in the chamber—just as it has been for the past 400 years. One face that won’t be there is that of my friend, Del. Danny Marshall, who spent almost a quarter-century representing the people of Southside in Richmond. A businessman and race-car driver before politics, Danny was no stranger to marquee races like the 24 Hours of Daytona, where he finished third in his class in 1999 and 2000. Afterward, he moved into a new kind of race. Danny was first elected to the Danville City Council, serving from 2000 to 2001, before winning election to the House of Delegates in 2001. He took office in 2002 and has represented Danville, Pittsylvania, and Henry Counties ever since, winning re-election more than a dozen times. His impact started early. His very first bill, in 2002, created the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville. What began as a modest idea became one of the most important economic drivers in Southside, pulling in research, training, and partnerships that helped keep Danville from slipping into permanent decline after the collapse tobacco and textiles. “Danny was my mentor; of course, I needed a lot of coaching, and he was there to do that,” Del. Terry Austin, R-Botetourt, told Cardinal News earlier this year. “Danny’s just truly a good, genuine individual who cares a lot about not just the Commonwealth but his constituents back home.” His impact is undeniable. Danny really steps up, he knows the economic development game, he knew what rural Virginia needed—and he got results. Danny was a longtime member of the Tobacco Commission and leveraged it to transform Southside’s economy. Through that work, he shepherded the Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill, which ultimately landed Microporous—$1.3 billion project expected to create more than 2,000 jobs. He also laid the groundwork for other major industrial projects, including Tyson Foods’ processing plant, the Caesars casino in Danville, and multiple manufacturing expansions across the region. Even smaller-scale efforts bore his stamp—like the $3 million whitewater project on the Dan River, designed to attract recreation while supporting redevelopment. Danny was not a show horse, or even a racehorse. Colleagues describe him as a workhorse: understated, polite, relentlessly focused on jobs and growth. He often joked he wasn’t “retiring,” just “stepping aside” for surgery and recovery. His own words summed it up neatly: he “can’t sit on the sidelines and watch the flowers grow.” That workmanlike ethic showed itself even in his final session. This year, Danny spent much of the session on a waiting list for a lung transplant, tethered to a hospital bed. Nonetheless, he participated remotely whenever possible—casting votes, speaking up, and representing his constituents until the last gavel fell. For colleagues who had called him dependable for years, it was proof in practice: even gravely ill, he showed up for his district. His departure leaves big shoes to fill. Danny’s fingerprints are literally on the budgets, bond packages, and bills that changed the trajectory of Danville and surrounding counties. The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, the Megasite, the casino, the factory jobs—all of it bears his mark. Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler put it plainly in a social media post earlier this year: “Danny Marshall’s fingerprints are all over the comeback we’re experiencing.” Danny’s career also stands out for how it ended. In an era when too many lawmakers chase cable news hits or flame out in scandal, he leaves quietly, on his own terms, with a record of steady wins that will outlast him. He built institutions, recruited jobs, and helped change the economic destiny of a region long written off by the rest of Virginia. My friend did good work. That kind of legacy doesn’t make for fiery headlines. But for the people of Southside, it has meant livelihoods, paychecks, and hope. And that may be the highest compliment anyone in public life can earn. Delegate Terry Kilgore has been a member of the Virginia House of Delegates since 1994. He currently serves as the House Minority Leader. Danny Marshall addresses the Virginia Economic Developers Association. V
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NjQ0MA==