One person + one person = plural verb (even if they come AFTER the verb.

I recently reviewed an interesting new biography of Alabama Governor George Wallace and came across a sentence with a subject/verb agreement problem. How would you correct this one?

Among the notable African Americans serving in the administration was Hezekiah Wagstaff, assistant press secretary, and Delores Pickett, a one-time actress, as director of the Department of Minority Affairs.

There are two people in this sentence. Even though they both appear AFTER the verb, the verb still needs to be plural. It should read as follows:

Among the notable African Americans serving in the administration were Hezekiah Wagstaff,..., and Delores Pickett....

If that is too awkward for you, simply turn the sentence around:

Hezekiah Wagstaff, assistant press secretary, and Delores Pickett, director of the Department of Minority Affairs, were notable African Americans serving in the administration.

I'd leave the "one-time actress" comment out here. It isn't relevant to the point being made.