Bill Text: VA HJR815 | 2019 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Linwood S. Matthews.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-02-18 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ815ER) [HJR815 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2019-HJR815-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Linwood S. Matthews passed peacefully from his family and friends on August 7, 2018; and
WHEREAS, Linwood Matthews was a member of the Forest View Volunteer Rescue Squad for 54 years, displaying a commitment to volunteerism and service to his community that very few could equal, serving his squad as president, vice president, secretary, deputy chief, membership chair, day lieutenant and night lieutenant, rescue officer, and junior advisor; he began his career in 1964 as a first aid provider, then was an emergency medical technician before he moved on to vehicle extrication; and
WHEREAS, Linwood Matthews' training and instructor certifications would make a lengthy catalog of courses, but included subjects like the Emergency Medical Technician Course, CPR, Vertical Rescue Instructor Trainer, Emergency Vehicle Operators' Course, Basic and Light Duty Rescue, Heavy Rescue and Rescue Technician Instructor, Hazardous Materials, Search and Rescue and Incident Command, plus many more; and
WHEREAS, Linwood Matthews was an asset to District 3 of the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads (VAVRS), serving as deputy rescue officer and rescue officer, where he competed and assisted with competitions, served on the EMS Advisory Committee, and promoted Recruitment and Retention in EMS; and
WHEREAS, Linwood Matthews served the VAVRS as training officer, rescue officer, rescue college instructor, convention committee and convention vehicle extrication contest co-chair, and convention rescue contest co-chair and chair; he represented the VAVRS on the Central Virginia Technical Rescue Committee; State Search and Rescue Committee; VA EMS Critical Incident Committee; EMS Task Force; and EMS Disaster, EMS Mass Casualty, and EMS Disaster Planning groups; and
WHEREAS, Linwood Matthews demonstrated his enthusiasm for community service through his 25-year career as an officer of the Chesterfield County Police Department, beginning in 1968, where he was responsible for establishing the first school bus rodeo and the department's driver training and pursuit driving program; he also developed the Neighborhood Watch and Crime Prevention programs and chaired the Torch Run Committee to raise funds for the Special Olympics; and
WHEREAS, Linwood Matthews was named as Chesterfield County's Outstanding Police Officer in 1971 and as Police Officer of the Year in 1972; when he retired in 1994, he had attained the rank of captain and served in a number of sections within the department, including uniform operations, emergency communications, and support services; and
WHEREAS, Linwood Matthews led the effort to create the department's first SWAT team, which included ten officers, and the first department yearbook, showing the department's history; and
WHEREAS, affectionately known to friends and colleagues as "Lin" or "Doc," Linwood Matthews was inducted as a life member of the Forest View Volunteer Rescue Squad in 1978 and 20 years later as a life member of the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads; in September 2004, he was selected by his peers for induction into the prestigious Virginia Life Saving and Rescue Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Linwood Matthews will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his beloved wife, Judy; his two daughters, Shari Caston (Dan) and Christy Koogler, and their families, including three granddaughters; and the numerous EMS friends, those he served with, students he taught, patients he treated, and members of the law-enforcement community, which made up his second family; 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 Linwood S. Matthews; 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 Linwood S. Matthews as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.
