Bill Text: VA SJR160 | 2020 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Bittle Wilson Porterfield III.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2020-03-02 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ160ER) [SJR160 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-SJR160-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Bittle Wilson Porterfield III, respected businessman and civic leader in the Roanoke community, died on November 29, 2019; and
WHEREAS, a native of Roanoke, Bittle Porterfield earned degrees from Roanoke College and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and served two years in the United States Army before returning to the city to begin a career in the beverage industry; and
WHEREAS, for most of his career, Bittle Porterfield led two family-owned businesses, Porterfield Distributing Company and Rice Management Enterprises, developing business acumen and wisdom that would make him an important and reliable voice in many local civic organizations; and
WHEREAS, over the years, Bittle Porterfield served as chair of the Roanoke Valley Business Council, the Foundation for the Roanoke Valley, and the Roanoke Valley Resources Authority and as president of the Taubman Museum of Art and the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce, supporting several facets of the region's development; and
WHEREAS, committed to promoting aviation in the Commonwealth, Bittle Porterfield served as chairman of the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission, director of the board of the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority, and gubernatorial appointee to the Virginia Aviation Board; and
WHEREAS, Bittle Porterfield held positions as chair of the North Cross School Board of Trustees, member of the Hollins University Board of Trustees, rector of the Radford University Board of Visitors, and gubernatorial appointee to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, contributing greatly to the advancement of Virginia's academic institutions; and
WHEREAS, dedicated to improving the lives of children of all ages, Bittle Porterfield served on the boards of the Child Health Investment Partnership of the Roanoke Valley and Apple Ridge Farm, an organization that provides unparalleled educational, cultural, and outdoor experiences to underserved youth; and
WHEREAS, called by his faith to devote his life to serving others, Bittle Porterfield enjoyed worship and fellowship with his community at St. John's Episcopal Church in Roanoke for more than 45 years; and
WHEREAS, Bittle Porterfield will be dearly remembered and sorely missed by his wife of 50 years, Charlotte; his two sons, Bittle IV and Forrest, 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 Bittle Wilson Porterfield III, a businessman and civic leader cherished by the Roanoke community; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Bittle Wilson Porterfield III, as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.
