SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2012 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 22
Celebrating the life of Austin L. Roberts III.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, January 19, 2012
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 27, 2012
 

WHEREAS, Austin L. Roberts III, a well-known leader in the Commonwealth’s banking industry and admired community supporter from White Stone, died on August 22, 2011; and

WHEREAS, a native of Washington, D.C., who grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, Austin Roberts graduated from Walt Whitman High School and received a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from The College of William and Mary; and

WHEREAS, Austin Roberts began his remarkable banking career at First & Merchants Bank; he then moved to First Peninsula Bank & Trust, where at the age of 29, he became the youngest bank president in the Commonwealth at the time; and

WHEREAS, after helping start Commerce Bank in Newport News, Austin Roberts relocated to the Northern Neck and began an exemplary 21-year career as president and chief executive officer of the Bank of Lancaster; and

WHEREAS, a visionary leader, Austin Roberts recognized the importance of hometown banks to local consumers, overseeing the growth of the Bank of Lancaster from one office, 47 employees, and assets of approximately $89 million to nine offices, 128 employees, and $335 million in assets; and

WHEREAS, committed to helping the banking industry better serve its customers, Austin Roberts shared his extensive experience and expertise with a variety of professional organizations, including the Virginia Bankers Association, the Virginia Association of Community Banks, and the American Bankers Association; and

WHEREAS, Austin Roberts served as the chair of the American Bankers Association’s Community Bankers Council and testified before Congress as to the importance of community banks assisting small businesses; and

WHEREAS, not only a vocal advocate for the banking industry, Austin Roberts enthusiastically worked to make the Northern Neck a great place in which to live and work through his support and contributions to numerous local organizations; and

WHEREAS, Austin Roberts introduced thousands of local youth to important financial literacy concepts through his support of the infrastructure for school banks in Lancaster and Northumberland Counties; and

WHEREAS, Austin Roberts served as chair of the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula, helped to establish a branch of the YMCA in Kilmarnock, and provided valuable guidance and insight as a board member of the Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Virginia Chamber of Commerce, and Virginia Quality Life, among many others; and

WHEREAS, Austin Roberts remained a loyal alumnus of The College of William and Mary throughout his life, serving on its board of visitors and on the board of directors of the School of Education’s Development Board; he was honored to receive the Alumni Medallion, the Alumni Association’s highest award, in 1994; and

WHEREAS, a man of great integrity, Austin Roberts made an indelible imprint on the Northern Neck area over the course of his life through his humble service, commitment to education, and business acumen; and

WHEREAS, Austin Roberts will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Barbara; son, Rob; parents, Austin and Barbara; numerous other family members and friends; and the Northern Neck community; 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 a respected business and civic leader and admired citizen of the Commonwealth, Austin L. Roberts III; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Austin L. Roberts III as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.