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2020 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 247
Celebrating the life of Dois Irvin Rosser, Jr.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 24, 2020
Agreed to by the Senate, February 27, 2020
 

WHEREAS, Dois Irvin Rosser, Jr., of Hampton Roads, founder of Pomoco Auto Group, Inc., and International Cooperating Ministries, died on November 12, 2019; and

WHEREAS, born in Galts Mill and raised in Hampton Roads, Dois Rosser worked in the Newport News shipyard while studying at the Walton College of Commerce in Chicago; in 1946, he answered the call to serve his country, enlisting in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II and later in the Tactical Air Command; and

WHEREAS, possessing tremendous business acumen and vision, Dois Rosser was a successful entrepreneur in various industries; he developed several real estate investments in the Virginia Peninsula, including Marlbank Farms in Yorktown and Cypress Creek in Smithfield, and founded Pomoco Auto Group, which has grown over the years into one of the largest dealership groups in Hampton Roads; and

WHEREAS, Dois Rosser was a leader of the auto industry both locally and nationally, serving as the chairman of the Chrysler National Dealer Council in 1979 and receiving the Quality Dealer Award from Time Magazine in 2000 for his exemplary customer care; and

WHEREAS, greatly motivated by his Christian faith, Dois Rosser served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations in the 1960s and 1970s, including Trans World Radio, Prison Fellowship, and Leighton Ford Ministries, and helped found both the Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast and the National Prayer Breakfast; and

WHEREAS, after studying the Bible through Pastor Dick Woodward’s Mini Bible College, Dois Rosser was inspired to found International Cooperating Ministries (ICM), an organization dedicated to supporting indigenous Christian communities around the world; and

WHEREAS, ICM would become Dois Rosser’s life legacy; since 1986, the organization has translated the Mini Bible College program into 56 languages while constructing more than 8,700 churches across 93 countries, helping countless individuals convene for Christian worship and fellowship; and

WHEREAS, committed to the region he had called home nearly his entire life, Dois Rosser served on the board of trustees of Hampton University, helping to ensure a quality education for the youth in his community; and

WHEREAS, Dois Rosser was recognized in 1986 with the Unsung Virginian Award for his contributions to his community, was elected Layman of the Year in 1989 by Religious Heritage of America for his work with ICM, and received the Humanitarian Award in 2018 for his dedication to Hampton Roads and the world; and

WHEREAS, preceded in death by his beloved wife of 76 years, Shirley, Dois Rosser will be dearly remembered and missed by his daughters, Pamela, Cindy, and Janice, their families, 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 Dois Irvin Rosser, Jr., who inspired the Hampton Roads community through his entrepreneurship and faith; 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 Dois Irvin Rosser, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.