SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2011 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 942
Celebrating the life of Kirby T. Smith, Jr.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 23, 2011
Agreed to by the Senate, February 25, 2011

 

WHEREAS, Kirby T. Smith, Jr., a watercraft expert and respected citizen of Yorktown, died on December 19, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Kirby Smith began working for Smith’s Marine Railway in Dare at age 10 and enjoyed a 74-year career as the fifth-generation owner of the boatyard before turning the family business over to his children and grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, committed to protecting a free and fair electoral system, Kirby Smith served as secretary of the York County Electoral Board from 1952 to 1987 and as the first president of the Virginia Electoral Board Association from 1976 to 1979; and

WHEREAS, known throughout the community for his honest dignity, Kirby Smith served as a member of the Board of Directors of SunTrust Bank from 1962 until 1997; and

WHEREAS, Kirby Smith was instrumental in researching York County’s American Civil War history during the centennial celebration of 1961 to 1965; and

WHEREAS, from 1979 through 1982, Kirby Smith was a member of York County’s first Industrial Development Authority; and

WHEREAS, Kirby Smith was often called upon for his knowledge of and expertise in wooden watercraft construction and repair; Smith’s Marine Railway represented Virginia’s maritime traditions in the “Roots of Virginia Program” at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 2007; and

WHEREAS, in 1995 Kirby Smith joined a nationwide panel to assist the United States Coast Guard in developing a vessel inspection manual for wooden-hulled watercraft; and

WHEREAS, a trustee and lifelong member of Providence United Methodist Church, Kirby Smith was a charter member of the Fidelity Men’s Bible Class; and

WHEREAS, Kirby Smith will be remembered by his wife of 62 years, Lillian; his five children, Nathan, Timothy, Linda, Nancy, and James; his 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and many family members and friends; 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 Kirby T. Smith, Jr., watercraft expert and respected citizen of Yorktown; 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 Kirby T. Smith, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.