Bill Text: VA HJR425 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Brenton Shaw Halsey, Sr.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-03-07 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ425ER) [HJR425 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HJR425-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Brenton Shaw Halsey, Sr., a highly admired business leader in Richmond who promoted education and economic development as means to reduce poverty and enhance the quality of life for all city residents, died on May 28, 2023; and
WHEREAS, a native of Newport News, Brenton "Brent" Halsey, Sr., attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy in King's Point, New York, then transferred to the University of Virginia (UVA), where he earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and was a member of the Raven Society; and
WHEREAS, Brent Halsey subsequently served the nation as an officer in the United States Navy and completed a deployment to Korea; and
WHEREAS, after his honorable military service, Brent Halsey settled in the Richmond area, where he lived for 70 years and became an integral part of the community as a successful business owner and generous philanthropist; and
WHEREAS, Brent Halsey co-founded the James River Corporation, a manufacturer of consumer, packaging, and communication papers, and grew the business from a small, single-plant operation to a Fortune 100 firm with more than 100 locations in North America and Europe; and
WHEREAS, under Brent Halsey's leadership as chair and chief executive officer, the James River Corporation was ranked as the world's largest paper manufacturer in 1986, and annual sales reached approximately $8 billion prior to his retirement in 1992; and
WHEREAS, Brent Halsey was a respected leader in the paper products industry who served as chair of the American Paper Institute, now known as the American Forest and Paper Association; he was also a champion for conservation and served as chair of the American Forest Resource Council and the American Forest Trust; and
WHEREAS, over the course of his business career, Brenton Halsey adhered to a scrupulous code of ethics and was devoted to serving his employees, shareholders, suppliers, and customers with the utmost integrity; and
WHEREAS, Brent Halsey worked diligently to give back to the Richmond community and address the root causes of poverty in the region by supporting many charitable organizations and promoting economic revitalization and redevelopment; and
WHEREAS, Brent Halsey served as the chair and a member of the executive committee for Richmond Renaissance, now known as Venture Richmond, an organization dedicated to the redevelopment of downtown Richmond; and
WHEREAS, Brent Halsey also led efforts to redevelop the Richmond riverfront as chair of the Richmond Riverfront Corporation for 15 years, overseeing the restoration of the Canal Walk, which resulted in new commercial development; and
WHEREAS, a former chair and longtime board member of the Virginia Historical Society and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Brent Halsey greatly admired the life and works of Thomas Jefferson and shared his passion for the important role that education plays in creating a healthy electorate; and
WHEREAS, Brent Halsey offered his wise leadership and expertise to boards at St. Catherine's School, St. Christopher's School, the UVA Darden School of Business, and St. Paul's College; he served on the board of managers for the UVA Alumni Association and established an endowed professorship in chemical engineering at his alma mater; and
WHEREAS, outside of his career and community service, Brent Halsey was a competitive sailboat racer and won numerous premier events on the east coast; he was a commodore of the Fishing Bay Yacht Club in Deltaville, a member of the board of trustees at the New York Yacht Club, and a longtime board member of the Mariner's Museum in Newport News; and
WHEREAS, Brent Halsey earned many awards and accolades for his personal and professional achievements, including the 2001 Outstanding Virginian Award, the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the UVA School of Engineering, the Science Museum of Virginia's inaugural Outstanding Industrialist Award, and induction into the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, predeceased by his wife of 70 years, Lindsay, and his son, Brenton, Jr., Brent Halsey will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his daughters, Liza, Kate, and Melanie, and their families; his daughter-in-law, Corell, and her family; and numerous other family members, friends, and colleagues; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Brenton Shaw Halsey, Sr., a pillar of the Richmond community; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Brenton Shaw Halsey, Sr., as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.
