Bill Text: VA HR3 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of the Honorable Thomas Frank Betz, Jr.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-01-15 - Bill text as passed House (HR3ER) [HR3 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HR3-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, the Honorable Thomas Frank Betz, Jr., a distinguished attorney and a former judge of the 2nd Judicial District of Virginia, died on February 22, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Thomas "Tom" Frank Betz, Jr., graduated from Granby High School, where he was a talented multisport athlete and a member of the undefeated state champion football team in 1953; and
WHEREAS, Tom Betz received a scholarship to attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and played football for the Hokies from 1955 to 1959; he studied electrical engineering before changing his major and graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration; and
WHEREAS, Tom Betz earned a law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law on a two-year accelerated program, then served his country as a member of the United States Air Force in the Judge Advocate General's Corps; and
WHEREAS, Tom Betz's legal career spanned more than five decades; he served as an associate at Pilcher, Pilcher, Underwood and Byrd, then became an assistant Commonwealth's attorney in the Virginia Beach office; and
WHEREAS, in 1968, Tom Betz was appointed as a judge of the Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court; he presided over the court with great fairness and wisdom until 1972, then continued to serve as a substitute judge of the Virginia Beach General District Court until 1984; and
WHEREAS, Tom Betz subsequently worked for the firm Guy, Cromwell, Betz, and Lustig, then joined Mays and Valentine and served as managing partner of the firm's Norfolk office; and
WHEREAS, after Mays and Valentine merged with Troutman Sanders in 2001, Tom Betz served as managing partner of two local offices of Troutman Sanders until his retirement; and
WHEREAS, Tom Betz offered his leadership and expertise to many other local organizations, including as chair of the Tidewater Regional Group Home Board, Tidewater Regional Group Home Commission, and Tidewater Detention Home Board; he also served as a member of the Virginia Beach Planning Commission and the board of directors of the Virginia Beach Forum; and
WHEREAS, among many awards and accolades, Tom Betz received the Distinguished Service Award from the Virginia Beach Bar Association in 2002 and was selected as a Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation in 2007; and
WHEREAS, outside of his career, Tom Betz enjoyed skeet shooting at the NAS Oceana Skeet Range with his friends Herb Culpepper, Clyde Barnett, and Bob Steinhilber, and he enjoyed numerous hunting trips to Canada with his son Todd Betz and friend Barry Knight; and
WHEREAS, Tom Betz will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Carolyn; his children, Kimberly and Todd, and their families; his stepson, Jeffrey, and his family; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of the Honorable Thomas Frank Betz, Jr.; 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 the Honorable Thomas Frank Betz, Jr., as an expression of the House of Delegates' respect for his memory.
