Joe Alexander – Lee District’s longest serving Supervisor, a veteran combat pilot, respected local banker and business owner who will best be remembered as an architect of the region’s Metrorail system and transformational pothole politician, passed away over the weekend. Joe not only lived through the transformation of Fairfax County from farmland to Virginia’s burgeoning economic engine, he oversaw its transformation. He was a role model for me as I made my way through Fairfax County Government.
Raised in rural Franconia, by a father who rose to be both the volunteer Fire Chief and the County Court System’s Chief Magistrate and a mother who ran the post office co-located in the family hardware store, Joe was born to serve his community. After returning from the Korean War and taking over management of that store, Joe was urged to run for Supervisor by fellow business leaders. He began the first of his 8 consecutive terms in office as John Kennedy won the Presidency and continued to serve year through Bill Clinton’s first term. Presidents came and went but Joe remained and delivered.
Nicknamed Pothole Joe, no level of constituent service was too small to rate a personal response. Over 32 years, with the help of scores of loyal citizen volunteers, Joe shepherded his district from un-regulated gravel pits into the vibrant planned communities we know today; most notably Kingstowne. He first brought unified water and sewer service then sidewalks and streetlights to neighborhoods that lacked the most basic services.
Joe’s career was shaped through his transportation work. He was a founding member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission in 1964, which represents our area’s interests in mass transit systems like WMATA, VRE, and Fairfax Connector. Joe also served on the Metro Board starting in 1971. There he played an instrumental role in shaping WMATA and ensuring its presence in Fairfax County and thus transforming public transit in our region. He didn’t stop with WMATA by rail however. With other regional leaders, he transformed four private bus companies into the Metrobus system. All of this work on transit is why Fairfax County commemorated his legacy through the Joe Alexander Transportation Center in Springfield (commonly known as the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station).
Finally, not only was Joe a key figure to transforming Fairfax County, he was a figure in preserving its history. As a member of the Board and volunteer for the Franconia Museum, Joe also dedicated his time to sharing the history of the community he loved and that loved him in return.
It is Joe’s leadership and commitment to public service and his community that was instrumental in creating the Fairfax County we know today.
Joe passed peacefully at home on Sunday at the age of 90. He will be greatly missed.
