Bill Text: VA HJR1109 | 2019 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending Michael Bennett.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-02-22 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ1109ER) [HJR1109 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2019-HJR1109-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Michael Bennett, CFO and partner with the Ourisman automotive group is the Mount Vernon - Lee Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 2019; and
WHEREAS, Michael Bennett is a lifelong resident of the Groveton area, where he was raised five houses down from the former Dixie Pig BBQ on Beacon Hill; he has worked to increase local business opportunities and has championed revitalization of the Richmond Highway corridor; as a community volunteer, his service is focused on helping children and those less fortunate, and on providing educational opportunities; and
WHEREAS, Michael Bennett started work at the age of 10, delivering papers for The Washington Post; he later worked at Joe Gill's service station in Beacon Mall and at the Hess gas station on Telegraph Road to pay his tuition to Bishop Ireton High School; and
WHEREAS, from this beginning, Michael Bennett went on to provide leadership for a string of successful automotive dealerships, opening the Ford store on Quander Road in 1979 before joining the Ourisman automotive group at the Ford store on Richmond Highway in 1983; he opened the Suzuki store on Richmond Highway in 1986 and subsequently a Chevy store in 2010; and
WHEREAS, Michael Bennett has been actively involved in youth sports; he helped start the Woodlawn Football League where he coached for nine years, leading teams that included two Metropolitan Super Bowl champion teams and one semi-finalist team; he coached Woodlawn Little League teams for eight years, including a state champion 12-year-old team; and he has served as a volunteer umpire and basketball official; and
WHEREAS, Michael Bennett serves on the boards of directors for Good Shepherd Housing and the Mount Vernon - Lee Education Partnership, and is a member of the Bishop Ireton High School Board of Governors; he is a past board member of the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation; and
WHEREAS, Michael Bennett was appointed by the Governor to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership; since 1990 he has served as a National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation Ambassador; and
WHEREAS, Michael Bennett has been involved with the Mount Vernon - Lee Chamber of Commerce for 40 years; in 2014, the chamber recognized him as the founding sponsor of its annual Police and Firefighters Tribute; as a strong supporter of community policing, he helped create the Mount Vernon District Police Station's bike program; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Michael Bennett, CFO and partner with the Ourisman automotive group, for being named the Mount Vernon - Lee Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 2019; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Michael Bennett, as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for receiving this distinction recognizing his good works in the community.
