Bill Text: VA SJR234 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of John Kenner Marlow.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-03-07 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ234ER) [SJR234 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-SJR234-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, John Kenner Marlow, a longtime resident of Front Royal and a beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, died on February 4, 2023; and
WHEREAS, born on March 28, 1939, in Washington, D.C., John Marlow spent most of his 84 years as a proud resident of the Shenandoah Valley; he graduated from Warren County High School, where he played on Warren County's only undefeated and un-tied football team, held the high scoring record for the Warren County basketball team for decades, and was a district champion in the discus throw; and
WHEREAS, continuing his athletic career, John Marlow attended the University of Virginia (UVA) on a football scholarship, where he served as co-captain of the football team, lettered three times in track, and played basketball as a freshman; and
WHEREAS, an accomplished member of the UVA student body, John Marlow was the president of the V-Club, a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, and a member of the Lawn Society; and
WHEREAS, John Marlow graduated from the UVA McIntyre School of Commerce before serving in the United States Army, where he achieved the rank of lieutenant; and
WHEREAS, John Marlow returned home to Front Royal and began an illustrious business career, which included home building and real estate development, as well as the growth of the Marlow Auto Group, beginning with its original dealership, Marlow Motor Company, which he purchased from his father and which remains a family legacy run by his daughter, Emily Marlow Beck; and
WHEREAS, an active and dedicated member of his community, John Marlow supported a wide array of business and community causes for many years; and
WHEREAS, John Marlow was a founding director of Peoples Bank of Front Royal, a director at Jefferson Bank, a director of First Bank, and served as a director of the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and as chair of the Board of Trustees at Shenandoah University; and
WHEREAS, John Marlow was the initial visionary and a founder of the Warren County Educational Endowment, which through the years has provided nearly $1 million dollars in grants for the benefit of Warren County students; and
WHEREAS, with the strong belief that he lived in the most beautiful area in the country, John Marlow was driven by duty to serve his community; and
WHEREAS, after a run for lieutenant governor of Virginia, John Marlow decided he could have the greatest impact in local office where he could always do what he felt was right, free from the pressures of the larger political arena; and
WHEREAS, in 1968, John Marlow was elected to the Warren County Board of Supervisors, on which he served for 14 years as one of the first Republicans elected to office in Warren County since Reconstruction and was a founding director of the Lord Fairfax Planning District Commission; and
WHEREAS, John Marlow was a visionary mayor of Front Royal from 1982 to 1990, during which time Front Royal's Main Street was redeveloped, including the design and construction of the Gazebo in Downtown and the renovation of the former train station into the Front Royal Visitors Center; and
WHEREAS, among all of his achievements, John Marlow would confidently say that the best decision he ever made was to marry the love of his life, Joyce Allison Marlow, with whom he shared 58 legendary years and a great partnership in service to their community; and
WHEREAS, John and Joyce Marlow were honored as the 2024 Community Stars at the Community Foundation of the Northern Shenandoah Valley's seventh annual Evening with Our Community Stars on January 11, 2024, for their exceptional acts of philanthropy; and
WHEREAS, John Marlow will be deeply missed by his family, including his wife, his four daughters, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, as well as several beloved nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews; and
WHEREAS, John Marlow will also be fondly remembered and greatly missed by numerous friends and colleagues; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of John Kenner Marlow, a respected member of the Front Royal community; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of John Kenner Marlow as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.
