Bill Text: VA SJR454 | 2019 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-3)
Status: (Passed) 2019-02-23 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ454ER) [SJR454 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2019-SJR454-Enrolled.html
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, 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, 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, Ray Ashworth served on the Town Council of Wakefield from 1966 to 1969; and
WHEREAS, desirous to be of further service to the Commonwealth, 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, 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, Ray Ashworth provided dedicated leadership to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, 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; he 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, 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, 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, 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, Ray Ashworth was appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates as a founding member of the Chesapeake Bay Commission; and
WHEREAS, Ray Ashworth served as chairman of the Virginia YMCA Model General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, Ray Ashworth also served as executive vice president of the Virginia Trucking Association between 1981 and 1991; and
WHEREAS, 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, 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, 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 by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Honorable Luther Ray Ashworth as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.
