HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 290 Offered February 9, 2006 Celebrating the life John Roma Bryan, Jr. ----------
Patrons-- Bowling, Johnson, Kilgore and Phillips; Senators: Puckett and Wampler
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WHEREAS, John Roma Bryan, Jr., of Castlewood, a respected citizen and familiar figure in Capitol Square in Richmond for more than three decades, died October 5, 2005; and

WHEREAS, John Roma "Woozy" Bryan, Jr., was born September 8, 1940, in Wise County, graduated from St. Paul High School in 1959, and served his country in the United States Army from 1959 until 1962; and

WHEREAS, Woozy Bryan earned an undergraduate degree from the Clinch Valley College of the University of Virginia in 1967 and a master's degree from East Tennessee State University in 1969; and

WHEREAS, in 1969 Woozy Bryan joined the Clinchfield Coal Company as an environmental engineer, and after the company became Pittston Coal, he was promoted to vice president of environmental and governmental relations; and

WHEREAS, Woozy Bryan served Pittston Coal in governmental relations for 33 years as an experienced and knowledgeable liaison and consultant for the coal industry working with General Assembly members and nine Virginia governors; and

WHEREAS, during his long and distinguished career, Woozy Bryan was an effective and responsible activist on behalf of the coal industry and its employees; and

WHEREAS, committed to improving the quality of life for all of the residents of Virginia, Woozy Bryan gave generously of his time and talents to numerous community activities and civic and professional organizations and served as a member of several state boards and commissions; and

WHEREAS, Woozy Bryan will be remembered for his dedication to the citizens of the Commonwealth and for his great honesty and integrity in his service to the legislature and will be missed by his family, his many friends and admirers, and his countless colleagues across Virginia; 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 an outstanding public servant and fine Virginia gentleman, John Roma Bryan, Jr.; 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 John Roma Bryan, Jr., as an expression of the high regard in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly.