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2023 SESSION

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23101449D
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 245 Offered January 16, 2023 Celebrating the life of Robert Halstead DeFord, Jr. ---------- Patron-- Knight ----------

WHEREAS, Robert Halstead DeFord, Jr., a highly admired farmer, businessman, and community leader in Virginia Beach, died on October 29, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Robert “Bob” Halstead DeFord, Jr., grew up in Norfolk, where he attended Maury High School, and after graduating from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, he returned home to help his father run the family dairy farm; and

WHEREAS, during his time as a farmer, Bob DeFord was an active leader in the Virginia Farm Bureau, Southern States Co-op, and the Dairy Council of Virginia, and in 1969, he was selected as Virginia Farmer of the Year; and

WHEREAS, in 1972, Bob DeFord sold the dairy and became a respected local businessman with interests in the construction and real estate development industries, as well as several automobile dealerships; and

WHEREAS, Bob DeFord helped oversee the merger between Virginia Beach and the former Princess Anne County, and he was instrumental in the founding of the Virginia Aquarium, Virginia Wesleyan University, Virginia Beach Vision, and the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival; he was selected as King Neptune in 1979; and

WHEREAS, Bob DeFord was a champion for education, serving on the Virginia Beach School Board for 16 years, including nine years as chair, and serving on the Virginia State Board of Education for eight years, including two years as chair; he also served as founding president of the National Federation for Urban-Suburban School Districts; and

WHEREAS, Bob DeFord volunteered his leadership to many other civic and service organizations, including the Rotary Club of Virginia Beach, Kempsville Masonic Lodge No. 196, and local chapters of the Scottish Rite and the Shriners; and

WHEREAS, Bob DeFord was well known as a quintessential southern gentleman, who brought joy to others through his wisdom, witticisms, charm, and generosity; and

WHEREAS, Bob DeFord will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Nancy; his children, Shelley, Lisa, and Robert III, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of Robert Halstead DeFord, Jr., a pillar of the Virginia Beach 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 Halstead DeFord, Jr., as an expression of the House of Delegates’ respect for his memory.