VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

• Code of Virginia
• Virginia Administrative Code
• Constitution of Virginia
• Charters
• Authorities
• Compacts
• Uncodified Acts
• RIS Users (account required)

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

• Bills & Resolutions
  session legislation
• Bill Summaries
  session summaries
• Reports to the General Assembly
  House and Senate documents
• Legislative Liaisons
  State agency contacts

ACROSS SESSIONS

• Subject Index: Since 1995
• Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
• Summaries: Since 1994

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2018 SESSION

• history | hilite | pdf | print version

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 481 Celebrating the life of Robert Austin.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 7, 2018 Agreed to by the Senate, March 9, 2018

 

WHEREAS, Robert Austin, a successful entrepreneur and an admired community leader in Richmond, died on January 7, 2018; and

WHEREAS, a native of Henrico County, Robert “Jake” Austin grew up in Bungalow City and attended Fair Oaks Elementary School until the third grade; and

WHEREAS, Jake Austin honorably served his country as a member of the 25th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army, then returned to the Commonwealth and found work as an exterminator; and

WHEREAS, Jake Austin served members of the community by fixing televisions and helping build houses; he built his family’s own home on First Avenue in Bungalow City; and

WHEREAS, possessed of an entrepreneurial spirit, Jake Austin established Austin’s Grocery in Bungalow City; the store was a popular meeting place for both adults and teenagers and helped foster a strong sense of community among African American residents; and

WHEREAS, as the only African American-owned business in Bungalow City, Austin’s Grocery was subject to frequent attacks, and after the original store closed, Jake Austin relocated to Church Hill in Richmond, where he opened a second Austin’s Grocery store and continued to serve the community; and

WHEREAS, predeceased by his first wife, Bessie, Jake Austin will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Maude; children, Evelyn, Deborah, Gloria, Kimberly, and Robert, Jr., and their families; stepdaughter, Pamela, and her family; and numerous other 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 Robert Austin, an entrepreneur and respected member of the Richmond 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 Robert Austin as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.