Governor issues proclamation of Napoleon Hill Day, October 26

As part of a long standing tradition, Governor Ralph S. Northam declared October 26, 2019, also the late author Napoleon Hill’s birthday, as Napoleon Hill Day in the state of Virginia.

Hill, the father of many modern self-help gurus, was born October 26, 1883 in Wise County, Virginia.

Hill is known as one of the earliest writers of the modern genre of personal-success literature, for writing countless speeches and helping others to reach above mediocrity.

Central High School student Elle Smith will present the governor’s proclamation during the Oct. 28 celebration of Napoleon Hill Day at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Smith, who is affiliated with the Wise County space science team, had taken a keen interest in the writings by Mr. Hill at age 15.

The event, organized and sponsored by the Napoleon Hill Foundation, is part of the annual commemoration of the birthday of Napoleon Hill, the author of “Think and Grow Rich,” and other motivational books. A special lecture by Sunny Verma, head of Toronto based TutorBright, is free and open to the public. The lecture begins at 11 a.m. in the David J. Prior Convocation Center.

The Foundation is appreciative of Jack Kennedy for pursuing and gaining gubernatorial proclamations for the annual Napoleon Hill Day event. Having been a personal friend and former business associate of Don Green, now Chief Executive Officer of The Napoleon Hill Foundation, Kennedy was among those in the first academic course at the College about Napoleon Hill’s life and works close to thirty years ago.

Kennedy, Clerk of Circuit Court office in Wise, Va., and a long time Hill family friend, along with countless others, have shared “Think and Grow Rich” and “The Keys to Success” with hundreds of friends, domestic and international undergraduate and graduate scholars, journalists, appointed and elected government officials and business associates.

The proclamation reads as follows:

WHEREAS, Napoleon Hill was born on October 26, 1883, in Wise County, Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Napoleon Hill is known throughout the world as one of the earliest writers of the modern genre of personal-success literature, for writing countless quotes and famous speeches, and for helping others lead more productive and satisfying lives; and

WHEREAS, Napoleon Hill’s writings outline a philosophy of success that includes the importance of clear goals, focused determination, persistence, ethical dealings with others, and maintaining a positive attitude; and

WHEREAS, Napoleon Hill has influenced innumerable leaders and citizens working in various fields across our nation and around the world to strive towards their goals and achieve success; and

WHEREAS, Napoleon Hill, a Southwest Virginia native, exemplified Virginia values, such as hard work, commitment, and purposeful living; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia is pleased to recognize Napoleon Hill for his philosophy of leadership, self-motivation, and individual achievements;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize October 26, 2019, as NAPOLEON HILL DAY in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

Napoleon Hill was born in poverty in a one-room cabin on the Pound River on Oct. 26, 1883. From these humble beginnings, the Wise County native became an advisor to presidents. During the early 20th century, Hill interviewed the nation’s most successful business leaders, including Andrew Carnegie and Henry Ford. From those interviews and more conducted over 20 years, Hill compiled his eight-volume set “The Law of Success,” a collection of the philosophy of individual achievement. He later condensed his research to compile “Think and Grow Rich,” often called one of the most important motivational books ever written.

First published in 1937, “Think and Grow Rich” has sold millions of copies worldwide and continues to appear on the list of top business books. In this classic on personal achievement, Hill introduced the concept “whatever the mind can conceive and believe the mind can achieve.” Seventeen principles from Hill’s philosophy of personal achievement include cultivating a burning desire, faith, and persistence in the attainment of goals. Hill’s writings are still must-reads for business professionals.

The Napoleon Hill Foundation is a nonprofit educational institution dedicated to promoting Hill’s philosophy.