SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 103 Celebrating the life of Francis Thornton West.   Agreed to by the Senate, January 17, 2008 Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 25, 2008  

WHEREAS, Francis Thornton West of Roanoke, a respected citizen and longtime public servant, died on November 24, 2007; and

WHEREAS, a Salem native, Francis West was born on February 6, 1920, the son of the late Thomas Fendol and Bentley Wysor West, graduated from Andrew Lewis High School, and attended Roanoke College; and

WHEREAS, in 1949, Francis West moved to Martinsville to establish West Window Corporation and served as company chairman and president; and

WHEREAS, throughout his life and distinguished career, Francis West gave his time and talents to many business and civic organizations, including as chairman of Franklin Finance Company in Rocky Mount and Region III of the Small Business Administration Advisory Council; as director of Crestar Bank in Martinsville; and as president of the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the United Fund, and the Virginia Municipal League; and

WHEREAS, Francis West served on the board of visitors of The College of William and Mary, the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, the White House Conference on Small Business, and the State Board for Community Colleges; and he was a chairman and cofounder of the Advisory Committee of Patrick Henry College of the University of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, devoted to improving the quality of life of his fellow citizens, Francis West served as a council member, mayor, and vice mayor for the City of Martinsville; and

WHEREAS, Francis West received many awards and accolades for his lifelong community service, including the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce’s prestigious Heck Ford Award, the Roanoke College Medal for Distinguished Service and Professional Achievement and later its Sesquicentennial Distinguished Alumni Award; and he was inducted into the Salem Education Foundation and Alumni Association Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Francis West was a faithful member of Christ Episcopal Church in Martinsville, where he served on the vestry and was active in the church’s many missions in the community; and

WHEREAS, Francis West will be fondly remembered for his kind and generous nature and greatly missed by his three daughters, Suzanne, Nina, and Wysor, his son Francis Jr., and their wonderful families, including 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; his numerous other loving family members and friends; and the citizens of the City of Martinsville; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a fine public servant and outstanding Virginian, Francis Thornton West; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Francis Thornton West as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 103 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 11, 2008 Celebrating the life of Francis Thornton West. ----------
Patrons-- Reynolds and Hurt; Delegates: Armstrong, Marshall, D.W., Merricks and Spruill
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WHEREAS, Francis Thornton West of Roanoke, a respected citizen and longtime public servant, died on November 24, 2007; and

WHEREAS, a Salem native, Francis West was born on February 6, 1920, the son of the late Thomas Fendol and Bentley Wysor West, graduated from Andrew Lewis High School, and attended Roanoke College; and

WHEREAS, in 1949, Francis West moved to Martinsville to establish West Window Corporation and served as company chairman and president; and

WHEREAS, throughout his life and distinguished career, Francis West gave his time and talents to many business and civic organizations, including as chairman of Franklin Finance Company in Rocky Mount and Region III of the Small Business Administration Advisory Council; as director of Crestar Bank in Martinsville; and as president of the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the United Fund, and the Virginia Municipal League; and

WHEREAS, Francis West served on the board of visitors of The College of William and Mary, the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, the White House Conference on Small Business, and the State Board for Community Colleges; and he was a chairman and cofounder of the Advisory Committee of Patrick Henry College of the University of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, devoted to improving the quality of life of his fellow citizens, Francis West served as a council member, mayor, and vice mayor for the City of Martinsville; and

WHEREAS, Francis West received many awards and accolades for his lifelong community service, including the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce's prestigious Heck Ford Award, the Roanoke College Medal for Distinguished Service and Professional Achievement and later its Sesquicentennial Distinguished Alumni Award; and he was inducted into the Salem Education Foundation and Alumni Association Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Francis West was a faithful member of Christ Episcopal Church in Martinsville, where he served on the vestry and was active in the church's many missions in the community; and

WHEREAS, Francis West will be fondly remembered for his kind and generous nature and greatly missed by his three daughters, Suzanne, Nina, and Wysor, his son Francis Jr., and their wonderful families, including 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; his numerous other loving family members and friends; and the citizens of the City of Martinsville; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a fine public servant and outstanding Virginian, Francis Thornton West; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Francis Thornton West as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.