WHEREAS, Ronald W. Branscome, who has served and advocated for the disability community in Fredericksburg for more than 40 years, will retire as executive director of the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board in June 2017; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Branscome holds degrees from what is now Towson University and Virginia Commonwealth University; he first came to Fredericksburg in 1974 to coordinate a Developmental Disabilities Grant for the Association of Retarded Citizens-Rappahannock, which established a community-based care system in Planning District 16; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Branscome joined the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board in 1976 as the director of what is now the Developmental Services Division; he implemented a case management program to enhance care for individuals, an infant-development program to provide therapy and training for infants and toddlers with development delays, and an adult day support program; and
WHEREAS, under Ronald Branscome's leadership the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board also opened two innovative programs, the Crisis Stabilization Program at The Sunshine Lady House for Mental Health Wellness & Recovery and the Myers Drive Respite Group Home; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Branscome is also a past chair of the Rappahannock United Way, where he helped raise more than $2.8 million to support 35 nonprofit organizations; he also serves on the Mary Washington Healthcare Board of Trustees and is a member of the Rotary Club of Rappahannock-Fredericksburg; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Branscome has earned numerous awards and accolades for his good work, including the 1982 Employee of the Year award from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Advocate Award from the Association of Retarded Citizens-Rappahannock, the David A. Langford Volunteer of the Year Award from the United Way, and the Community Service Award from Mount Olive Baptist Church; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Ronald W. Branscome for his decades of work as an advocate for disability rights on the occasion of his retirement as executive director of the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Ronald W. Branscome as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his legacy of service to the Fredericksburg community and the Commonwealth.