WHEREAS, Buford Blackburn Belcher of Pearisburg, a respected public safety officer, passed away on May 16, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Buford "Boots" Belcher served the nation as a member of the United States Army and later as a law-enforcement officer with the United States Forest Service; and

WHEREAS, Boots Belcher became a member of the Giles County Life Saving and Volunteer Rescue Squad in 1981 and rose through the ranks as a purchasing agent, sergeant, and lieutenant of training and personnel to ultimately become captain; and

WHEREAS, in 1991, Boots Belcher became a founding member of the Newport Volunteer Rescue Squad and served as captain of the organization from November of that year until December 2000; and

WHEREAS, Boots Belcher also served the Newport Volunteer Rescue Squad as its representative to the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads (VAVRS) Board of Governors from 1991 to 2001; and

WHEREAS, Boots Belcher served with the VAVRS in many capacities at the district and state levels, including as the District 7 rescue and deputy rescue officer, district training officer, and alternate vice president, and as District 7 vice president from 1999 to 2001 and again from 2006 to 2007; and

WHEREAS, Boots Belcher was certified in many of the numerous VAVRS courses, including emergency vehicle operator's course, vehicle extrication, search and rescue instructor, cave rescue, and rescue squad management, and he was also certified as a cardiac technician; and

WHEREAS, Boots Belcher was trained in incident management command by the United States Forest Service; he was also trained in hazardous materials awareness and served as the first hazardous materials coordinator in Giles County; and

WHEREAS, Boots Belcher was selected by his peers to receive life membership in the Giles County Life Saving and Volunteer Rescue Squad and in the Newport Volunteer Rescue Squad; in September 2007, he was elected by his colleagues in the VAVRS as a life member of the association in recognition of his accomplishments over the years; and

WHEREAS, Boots Belcher is survived by his daughter, Liz, and son-in-law, Steve; grandson, Ryan; sister, Annell; numerous nieces and nephews; numerous friends in Pearisburg and Giles County; and all of his many friends in the emergency medical services family throughout the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby notes with great sadness the loss of Buford Blackburn Belcher, a respected leader in the Giles County and Pearisburg communities and in the emergency medical services community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Buford Blackburn Belcher as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's respect for his memory and his contributions to Giles County and the Commonwealth.