HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 456 Offered March 3, 2006 Commending Franklin R. Bowers. ----------
Patrons-- Alexander, BaCote, Barlow, Cosgrove, Gear, Hamilton, Howell, A.T., Iaquinto, Ingram, Joannou, Jones, D.C., Jones, S.C., Lewis, Melvin, Miller, Morgan, Oder, Purkey, Rapp, Spruill, Suit, Tata, Tyler, Ward, Wardrup and Welch; Senators: Miller, Quayle, Rerras, Stolle and Wagner
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WHEREAS, Franklin R. Bowers, vice president and regional manager of Cox Communications, Inc., will retire at the end of 2006 after 20 years as the head of the cable company’s operations in Hampton Roads; and

WHEREAS, Cox Communications, Inc., is a Fortune 500 company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., a multiservice broadband communications company with more than 6.6 million customers; and

WHEREAS, Franklin “Frank” Bowers earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and wood products engineering from Syracuse University; and

WHEREAS, before joining Cox Communications, Inc., Frank Bowers worked in key sales and marketing positions with the General Electric Company; and

WHEREAS, Frank Bowers joined Cox Communications, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, in 1981 as the general manager of operations in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana; he was promoted to vice president for the New Orleans area cable system in 1984 and moved to Hampton Roads where he became vice president of operations in 1986; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure at Cox Communications, Inc., in Hampton, Frank Bowers has overseen the growth of the local cable system from 20 channels to nearly 240 channels; and

WHEREAS, Frank Bowers has been invaluable in the cable provider’s expansion into telephone and high-speed Internet service; and

WHEREAS, an outstanding cable executive and visionary leader, Frank Bowers was the first inductee to the Virginia Cable Hall of Fame on July 20, 2002, for his pioneering contributions to the cable communications industry; and

WHEREAS, during the remainder of his service in 2006, Frank Bowers will concentrate on expanding his duties as president of Cox Virginia Telcom, the branch of Cox Communications, Inc., that provides local telephone service to 225,000 Virginia customers; and

WHEREAS, Cox Virginia Telcom will lay the groundwork for the company to increase telephone business throughout the state; Cox now offers phone service in Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia, and Roanoke; and

WHEREAS, Frank Bowers was valuable in the establishment of the Community Involvement Committee, which coordinates employee volunteer opportunities in the community, as well as the Volunteer of the Quarter Award program, which recognizes outstanding employee volunteerism; and

WHEREAS, Frank Bowers' commitment to involve employees in company decisions and to partner with the community has contributed greatly to the growth and prosperity of Cox Communications, Inc., in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Frank Bowers and his wife of 38 years, Jackie Bowers, currently live in Virginia Beach; they have built a retirement home in Williamsburg, where they plan to live permanently; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend Franklin R. Bowers for his 20  years of superior achievement and numerous contributions to the cable communications industry; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Franklin R. Bowers as an expression of the General Assembly’s gratitude for his outstanding service and best wishes for a long and joyful retirement.