WHEREAS, Richard G. Johnstone, Jr., president and chief executive officer of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives, who has supported the staff and community-owners of electric cooperatives in the region for the past 35 years, will retire in April 2021; and

WHEREAS, a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Richmond with degrees in journalism and speech communications, Richard Johnstone began his career as editor of the Virginia State Bar's monthly magazine; and

WHEREAS, Richard Johnstone joined the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC) in 1985 as manager of its communications and public relations department and as editor of its magazine, Rural Living, which changed its title to Cooperative Living in 2000; subsequently, he was the association's executive vice president for 17 years before being named its president and chief executive officer; and

WHEREAS, as the leader of VMDAEC, Richard Johnstone oversees the association's core objectives, including communicating with over 1.4 million consumers through Cooperative Living magazine; advocating on behalf of member electric cooperatives on both state and federal levels; and training cooperative staff, board members, and line crew workers; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his role as president and chief executive officer of VMDAEC, Richard Johnstone concurrently serves as executive editor of Cooperative Living, one of the most widely circulated publications in the Commonwealth and a key component to the association's education and advocacy efforts; and

WHEREAS, Richard Johnstone's commitment to his industry has led him to serve various organizations and boards; he is a current board member and past president of the Virginia Cooperative Council, a former board member and president of the Virginia Society of Association Executives, and a member and past president of both the Rural Electric Statewide Managers Association and the National Electric Cooperatives Statewide Editors Association; and

WHEREAS, serving on the executive committee and the board of the Better Business Bureau of Central Virginia, Richard Johnstone has helped foster a thriving and responsible business environment in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of his meritorious efforts on behalf of electric cooperatives and trade associations in the Commonwealth, Richard Johnstone was recipient of the Virginia Society of Association Executives' CEO Award of Excellence in 2016; and

WHEREAS, Richard Johnstone will enjoy spending his retirement with his wife, Blair, and his two grown children, Katy and Ethan, with frequent visits to the family cabin in Highland County; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Richard G. Johnstone, Jr., president and chief executive officer of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives, for supporting the staff and consumer-owners of electric cooperatives throughout the region for the past 35 years; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Richard G. Johnstone, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly's heartfelt admiration for his contributions to the Commonwealth.