18200237D
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 656 Offered June 12, 2018 Celebrating the life of the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth. ----------
Patrons-- Peace, Cole, Jones, S.C., Knight, Landes, McQuinn, Murphy, Plum, Turpin, Tyler and Watts
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WHEREAS, the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth of Richmond, a respected businessman who served the Commonwealth as a former member of the House of Delegates, died on May 9, 2018; and

WHEREAS, a native of Danville, Luther Ray Ashworth attended Whitmell Farm-Life School and graduated from the University of Richmond, then served his country as a member of the United States Army; and

WHEREAS, respected for his business acumen, Luther Ray Ashworth was the chief executive officer of Wakefield Oil Company from 1960 to 1979, receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the Virginia Jaycees in 1962; and

WHEREAS, the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth served on the Town Council of Wakefield from 1966 to 1969; and

WHEREAS, desirous to be of further service to the Commonwealth, the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth ran for and was elected to the House of Delegates in 1969 and reelected for six terms, until 1982, representing the residents of the Counties of Charles City, Greensville, New Kent, Surry, and Sussex and the City of Emporia in the 45th District; and

WHEREAS, during his time as a state lawmaker, the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth introduced and supported numerous pieces of important legislation for the benefit of all Virginians and served as Chairman of the House Committee on Conservation and Natural Resources from 1978 to 1982; and

WHEREAS, for 46 years, the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth provided dedicated leadership to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, being first appointed to the Board of Trustees by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in 1972, then successively reappointed by Governors Charles S. Robb, Gerald L. Baliles, and L. Douglas Wilder; following his years as a gubernatorial appointee, he continued his service as a board-elected trustee, serving as board chairman from 1990 to 1994 and elected as chairman emeritus in 2002, and concurrently was an active member of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation's private affiliate boards for more than three decades, holding several officer positions and serving as president of the Jamestown-Yorktown Educational Trust from 1989 to 1990; and

WHEREAS, the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth's leadership helped transform the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation's museums, now known as Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, into world-class centers of education for teaching the history of the founding and development of Virginia and the United States; and

WHEREAS, in his association with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth provided outstanding leadership in the development and implementation of significant national commemorations recognizing 400 years of Virginia and American history as a member of the Jamestown 2007 and the 2019 Commemoration Steering Committees; and

WHEREAS, the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth served on the Virginia State Crime Commission, first as an appointee of the Speaker of the House of Delegates and later as a gubernatorial appointee; and

WHEREAS, in 1980, the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth was appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates as a founding member of the Chesapeake Bay Commission; and

WHEREAS, the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth served as chairman of the Virginia YMCA Model General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth also served as executive vice president of the Virginia Trucking Association between 1981 and 1991; and

WHEREAS, the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth volunteered his time and leadership with Southeast 4-H Educational Center, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Chippokes Plantation Farm Foundation, the Virginia State Fair, and the Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution; and

WHEREAS, the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth was appointed by the Richmond City Council to serve on the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission from 2010 through 2013; and

WHEREAS, predeceased by his wife, Anne, the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his children, Sallie, George, and Anne, and their families and by numerous other family members, friends, and colleagues; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth; 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 Luther Ray Ashworth as an expression of the House of Delegates' respect for his memory.