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2013 SESSION


HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 141
Celebrating the life of John Stewart Bottum.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 1, 2013

 

WHEREAS, John Stewart Bottum, a loyal public servant and respected Arlington resident, died on June 9, 2012; and

WHEREAS, growing up on a commercial livestock farm in South Dakota, John Bottum lived through the Great Depression, enduring droughts, plagues of grasshoppers, and blizzards; and

WHEREAS, after attending a one-room schoolhouse, John Bottum went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from South Dakota State University, and a master’s degree and a doctorate from Purdue University; and

WHEREAS, it was at Purdue University that John Bottum met his future wife, Cherie; the two married in 1961 and moved to Ohio where he spent the next eight years as a professor at Ohio State University; and

WHEREAS, in 1970 John Bottum moved to Arlington and continued a 41-year career with the Extension Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA); and

WHEREAS, joining Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ in 1971, John Bottum developed many lasting friendships in the community as a leader on social justice, particularly the Open and Affirming Committee for welcoming all people, including gays; and

WHEREAS, as a member of a community development delegation, John Bottum traveled to Bulgaria and observed life in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the Cold War; and

WHEREAS, becoming the Deputy Director of Planning and Evaluation in 1982, John Bottum helped to develop plans in all 50 states and spearheaded diversity efforts within the USDA; and

WHEREAS, appointed to a task force by the Secretary of Agriculture, John Bottum and other task force members studied past injustices against African American farmers and delivered 92 recommendations, all of which were adopted; and

WHEREAS, retiring from the USDA in 2000, John Bottum enthusiastically volunteered with several organizations, including the Arlington Committee of 100, the Extension Leadership Council, Signature Theatre, Studio Theatre, and local Democratic campaigns; and

WHEREAS, an avid outdoorsman, John Bottum enjoyed camping, hiking, and sailing; hoping to further beautify Arlington, he joined the Virginia Master Gardener Program and the Tree Stewards; and

WHEREAS, John Bottum also enjoyed travel in his retired life, happily visiting China, Turkey, Mexico, Italy, Japan, Great Britain, France, Spain, and Germany with family and friends; and

WHEREAS, John Bottum is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife, Cherie; children Angela and Stephen, and their families; and many other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of John Stewart Bottum, a hardworking public servant and an inspirational member of the Arlington community; 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 John Stewart Bottum as an expression of the House of Delegates’ respect for his memory.