Bill Text: VA HR94 | 2018 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Raymond B. Bottom, Jr.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2018-02-23 - Bill text as passed House (HR94ER) [HR94 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2018-HR94-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Raymond B. Bottom, Jr., a beloved father, active Virginia Peninsula resident, and respected business leader who served as chairman of the media company the Daily Press, Inc., died on February 7, 2018; and
WHEREAS, a Hampton native, Raymond Bottom attended Hampton High School and then earned a bachelor's degree in physics from Hampden-Sydney College in 1951 and a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Virginia in 1958; and
WHEREAS, after completing his education, Raymond Bottom enlisted as a first lieutenant in the United States Air Force and flew missions around the globe as an electronic countermeasures officer on B-36 bombers; and
WHEREAS, Raymond Bottom later served in the Air Force Reserve for 26 years before retiring with the rank of colonel; during his time in the reserve, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation; and
WHEREAS, at the end of his active duty Air Force service, Raymond Bottom went to work for his family's newspaper and media business, the Daily Press, Inc.; he spent his early career working at the radio subsidiary WGH, where he spearheaded the creation of the nationally recognized classical radio station WGH-FM; and
WHEREAS, a natural leader and talented businessman, Raymond Bottom was instrumental in obtaining the cable television franchises in Newport News and Danville and forming Hampton Roads Cablevision and Danville Cablevision; he later served as president of both companies and led them to great success in the 1980s; and
WHEREAS, following his mother's retirement, Raymond Bottom became chairman of the board of the Daily Press, Inc., and continued to lead the company until it was sold in the late 1980s; he then formed the television company Centennial Communications, which he sold in 1997; and
WHEREAS, in addition to his success in business, Raymond Bottom served on the boards of the Virginia Air and Space Center, the USO of Hampton Roads and Central Virginia, the Rouse-Bottom Foundation, the Virginia Association of Broadcasters, the Hampton Coliseum Advisory Committee, and the Peninsula Rotary Club; and
WHEREAS, a proud Hampden-Sydney College graduate, Raymond Bottom served on the institution's board of trustees from 1973 to 2006 and as trustee emeritus until 2017; he also served on the advisory board of the Wilson Center for Leadership for six years and established scholarships that put over 100 young men through college; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of his service to Hampden-Sydney College, Raymond Bottom was named an Alumni Leadership Team Ambassador and a member of the Peter Johnson and Patrick Henry Societies; he also received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award and the Patrick Henry Award; and
WHEREAS, Raymond Bottom was an accomplished pilot and nurtured a lifelong love of airplanes; in addition to owning several antique aircraft, he attended the annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for 47 years and served as president of the EAA Vintage Aircraft Association, Chapter 3 and as editor of its newsletter; and
WHEREAS, Raymond Bottom will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his son, J. Scott, and his family, as well as numerous other family members and close friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of Raymond B. Bottom, Jr., an accomplished business leader who gave outstanding service to the residents of the Virginia Peninsula; 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 Raymond B. Bottom, Jr., as an expression of the House of Delegates' respect for his memory.
