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2024 SESSION

24108298D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 175
Offered February 29, 2024
Celebrating the life of the Honorable Richard Samuel Reynolds III.
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Patrons-- VanValkenburg, Bagby, Aird, Boysko, Carroll Foy, Craig, Deeds, Diggs, Durant, Ebbin, Favola, French, Hackworth, Hashmi, Head, Jordan, Locke, Lucas, Marsden, McDougle, McGuire, McPike, Mulchi, Obenshain, Peake, Pekarsky, Perry, Pillion, Reeves, Roem, Rouse, Salim, Stanley, Stuart, Sturtevant, Subramanyam, Suetterlein, Surovell and Williams Graves; Delegates: Anthony, Askew, Austin, Ballard, Batten, Bennett-Parker, Bloxom, Bulova, Callsen, Campbell, Carr, Cherry, Clark, Cohen, Cole, Convirs-Fowler, Cousins, Coyner, Davis, Delaney, Earley, Ennis, Feggans, Fowler, Freitas, Gardner, Garrett, Glass, Green, Griffin, Hayes, Helmer, Henson, Hernandez, Herring, Hodges, Hope, Jones, Kent, Keys-Gamarra, Kilgore, Knight, Krizek, Laufer, Leftwich, LeVere Bolling, Lopez, Lovejoy, Maldonado, Marshall, Martinez, McClure, McNamara, McQuinn, Milde, Morefield, Mundon King, O'Quinn, Oates, Obenshain, Orrock, Owen, Phillips, Price, Rasoul, Reaser, Reid, Runion, Scott, D., Scott, P.A., Sewell, Shin, Sickles, Simon, Simonds, Srinivasan, Sullivan, Tata, Taylor, Thomas, Torian, Tran, Wachsmann, Walker, Ward, Ware, Watts, Webert, Wiley, Willett, Williams, Wilt, Wright, Wyatt and Zehr
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WHEREAS, the Honorable Richard Samuel Reynolds III, a distinguished businessman and philanthropist, esteemed former member of the House of Delegates, and a beloved member of the Richmond community, died on September 18, 2023; and

WHEREAS, “Major” Reynolds attended St. Christopher’s School in Richmond and graduated magna cum laude from Woodberry Forest School before earning a bachelor’s degree in history with honors from Princeton University; and

WHEREAS, the grandson of Richard Samuel Reynolds, founder of Reynolds Metals Company, Major Reynolds served as vice president and director of Robertshaw Controls Company, overseeing its mergers and acquisitions; and

WHEREAS, Major Reynolds later became managing director of the Reynolds Trusts and president of the Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, where he worked with his family to provide more than $66 million in grants for initiatives supporting the arts, education, the environment, and health and basic human needs; and

WHEREAS, Major Reynolds advocated tirelessly in support of the civil rights movement and for greater diversity in employment, education, and politics, receiving the William P. Robinson Award from the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus in recognition of his efforts; and

WHEREAS, Major Reynolds contributed greatly to the well-being of the Commonwealth and its citizens over a period of 53 years that included a term in the House of Delegates and service with various organizations and commissions, including the State Board for Community Colleges, the Virginia Port Authority Board of Commissioners, and the boards of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, the Jamestown-Yorktown Educational Trust, and the Medical College of Virginia Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Major Reynolds also served on the boards of Virginia Union University, Woodberry Forest School, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, Salvation Army, Boys Club of Richmond, the Virginia Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and the University of Richmond; and

WHEREAS, a gifted and indefatigable fundraiser, Major Reynolds gave abundantly of his time to lead campaigns for several worthy causes and organizations, including what is today United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg, as well as the United Negro College Fund, Jobs for Virginia Graduates, and what was formerly the Richmond Area Mental Health Association; and

WHEREAS, guided in life by his faith, Major Reynolds enjoyed worship and fellowship with his community at Second Presbyterian Church in Richmond, where he served as a trustee; he also devoted more than 30 years as president of the Reynolds Missionary Emergency Fund, supporting missions both at home and abroad; and

WHEREAS, Major Reynolds will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his loving wife, Pamela; his children, Richard IV, Anne, and Katherine, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of the Honorable Richard Samuel Reynolds III, a cherished member of the Richmond community whose legacy of generosity and service will endure for generations to come; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Honorable Richard Samuel Reynolds III as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.