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2016 SESSION


HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 130
Celebrating the life of John Stewart Bryan III.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 19, 2016

 

WHEREAS, John Stewart Bryan III, a respected newspaperman and a champion for open government who dedicated his life to keeping members of the public informed on important issues, died on January 23, 2016; and

WHEREAS, a native of Richmond, Stewart Bryan attended St. Christopher’s School and Episcopal High School in Alexandria, then earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia; he honorably served his country as a member of the United States Marine Corps; and

WHEREAS, Stewart Bryan was a fourth generation media professional, who began his career with summer jobs in the mail room and circulation department of the Richmond News Leader; he later became the publisher of the Tampa Tribune and the Tampa Times in 1976 and president and publisher of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Richmond News Leader in 1978; and

WHEREAS, Stewart Bryan valued honesty and integrity above all else, and he believed that newspapers have a critical role to play in making society better; he was ever mindful of public affairs in his beloved Virginia, where he staunchly advocated for freedom of the press and the public’s right to expect transparency in local and state government; and

WHEREAS, as publisher of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Stewart Bryan, whose career included a stint covering the Virginia General Assembly, would patiently consider objections to his coverage of a state official, before saying, as he did to a gubernatorial chief of staff, “You take care of your end of Grace Street; we’ll take care of ours”; and

WHEREAS, having served on the board of directors for the national communications company Media General since 1974, Stewart Bryan was well suited to lead the company when he was elected chairman, president, and chief executive officer in 1990; and

WHEREAS, Stewart Bryan helped Media General, which had been founded by his great-grandfather, grow into a multimillion dollar corporation that now includes 71 television stations, including five in Virginia–WAVY and WVBT in Norfolk, WRIC in Richmond/Petersburg, WSLS in Roanoke/Lynchburg, and WJHL in the Tri-Cities; he stepped down as chief executive officer of the company in 2005, but continued to serve as an active member and chairman of the board; and

WHEREAS, Stewart Bryan also worked to strengthen the community as a member of the boards of the United Way of Greater Richmond, Junior Achievement of Central Virginia, and what is now Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia, as well as many other civic and service organizations in Virginia and Florida; and

WHEREAS, Stewart Bryan helped preserve the history and heritage of the nation with the George C. Marshall Foundation and the Virginia Historical Society and was a founder of the National Museum of the Marine Corps at Quantico; and

WHEREAS, earning many awards, accolades, and honorary doctorates for his years of journalistic excellence, Stewart Bryan was inducted as a laureate of the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame and the Greater Richmond Business Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Stewart Bryan will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Lissy; daughters, Talbott and Anna, and their families; and numerous other family members, friends, and colleagues; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of John Stewart Bryan III, an accomplished journalist, newspaper publisher, and business leader and a true Virginia gentleman; 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 Bryan III as an expression of the House of Delegates’ respect for his memory.