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2016 SESSION

16101609D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 504
Offered March 7, 2016
Celebrating the life of James H. Whiting.
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Patrons-- McClellan, Carr and McQuinn; Senator: McEachin
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WHEREAS, James H. Whiting, a hardworking preservationist who helped safeguard the history and heritage of the Commonwealth by restoring historic buildings in the Richmond area, died on November 12, 2015; and

WHEREAS, at a young age, James Whiting moved with his family to Winchester, where he graduated from John Handley High School; in 1952, he was the first University of Virginia student to earn an art degree and would later serve as a part-time art teacher at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College; and

WHEREAS, after serving his country in the United States Army during the Korean War, James Whiting returned to the Commonwealth to manage a car business, while earning another degree from the University of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, James Whiting was recruited as a salesman by Burlington Industries in 1959 and traveled the country, rising through the ranks to become assistant national sales manager; during his travels, he cultivated his love of old buildings by buying and repairing or restoring houses; and

WHEREAS, after Burlington Industries downsized in 1975, James Whiting relocated to Richmond and worked at Anderson and Strudwick, where he retired as executive vice president in 1990; and

WHEREAS, first recruited by the trustee board of the Historic Richmond Foundation in 1975, James Whiting became president of the trustee board from 1985 to 1987; he earned the respect of his peers as a hard worker who was quick to lend a hand with any job, including painting, plastering, and woodwork; and

WHEREAS, James Whiting helped save the National Theatre from demolition and was involved with efforts to restore the Monumental Church; he was a founding member and former chair of the Capitol Square Preservation Council, which completed the first landscape master plan for Capitol Square and initiated a restoration and expansion effort under his leadership; and

WHEREAS, James Whiting will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Barbara; children, Julia, Welby, Sarah, Stanton, and Barbara, and their families; and many other family members, friends, and colleagues; 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 James H. Whiting, a dedicated volunteer who helped preserve numerous historic buildings in Richmond; 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 James H. Whiting as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.