WHEREAS, Jack Allyn Swicegood of Rocky Mount, a highly admired public safety officer, passed away on March 6, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Jack Swicegood was a Tennessean by birth and graduated from Greenback High School; he later met and married Ruth Phillips of Russell County and moved to Franklin County in 1960; and

WHEREAS, Jack Swicegood served his country in the United States Navy and the Army National Guard; and

WHEREAS, Jack Swicegood was employed by the Lane Furniture Company for 35 years and after retiring, he and Ruth opened the Rainbow Child Care Center in 1985, which he operated with Ruth for more than 25 years before retiring again; and

WHEREAS, Jack Swicegood joined the Franklin County Rescue Squad in 1967; he volunteered with the department for over 42 years, answering calls for 40 of them, day and night, and, as with many volunteers, missed many birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays to serve and safeguard members of the community; and

WHEREAS, Jack Swicegood also taught several training courses throughout the Commonwealth, including courses in first aid (the Green Book), CPR, EMT certification, emergency vehicle operations (emergency vehicle operator course), vehicle extrication, and farm machinery extrication, passing onto his students the skills needed to save lives and do so in a safe manner; and

WHEREAS, Jack Swicegood also helped form five separate rescue squads throughout Franklin County: Ferrum, Glade Hill, Snow Creek, Fork Mountain, and Cool Branch; he convinced the members of his own squad to sell Snow Creek a fully equipped ambulance for the price of one dollar; and

WHEREAS, Jack Swicegood formed the Franklin County Junior Volunteer Rescue Squad, and after a number of years as the county junior squad advisor, he became a state officer as junior squad advisor to the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads (VAVRS) for 18 years; and

WHEREAS, Jack Swicegood also donated time by holding a number of leadership roles in the Franklin County Rescue Squad; his longest tenure was 15 years as the squad's chaplain; and

WHEREAS, Jack Swicegood also served as the VAVRS District 6 vice president for two years, was the junior squad advisor and served on the EMS Council for four years, and was elected as a life member of District 6 in 2014; he was also a member of the Franklin County Rescue Squad Auxiliary, serving for 14 years and receiving a life membership; and

WHEREAS, Jack Swicegood was elected by his peers in the VAVRS as a life member of the association in September 1989 in recognition of his work at the state level, and in September 2010, he was elected by his colleagues to the VAVRS Rescue Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Jack Swicegood lived by the mantra of Commitment, Dedication, and Benevolence, which were the core tenets of his personality for the 91 years of his life; and

WHEREAS, Jack Swicegood was a member of the Rocky Mount First Church of the Brethren for over 40 years and served as the Sunday school superintendent for 20 years; and

WHEREAS, preceded in death by his daughter Diane, Jack Swicegood will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his loving wife, Ruth; his children, Gary and Mollie, and their families; and many other family members, friends, and colleagues; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby notes with great sadness the loss of Jack Allyn Swicegood, a respected leader in the Rocky Mount and Franklin County 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 Jack Allyn Swicegood as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's respect for his memory and his contributions to Franklin County and the Commonwealth.