SJ202: Celebrating the life of Nathaniel H. Reid, Jr.

WHEREAS, Nathaniel H. Reid, Jr., a beloved employee of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and community leader, died on March 7, 2009; and

WHEREAS, born into the large and loving family of Nathaniel Reid, Sr., and Nancy Reid, Nathaniel Reid was one of 11 children; and

WHEREAS, Nathaniel Reid attended James City County Training School, where he was an outstanding basketball player, and received a full scholarship to Virginia State College; and

WHEREAS, Nathaniel Reid joined the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation first as a waiter at the old Travis House restaurant before becoming bellman at the Williamsburg Inn; and

WHEREAS, a courteous and tactful man with a ready smile and laugh, Nathaniel Reid provided first-class service to the guests of the Williamsburg Inn, where he and his colleagues served kings and queens, six United States presidents, senators, and diplomats; and

WHEREAS, Nathaniel Reid worked diligently to provide superior service to guests; in the early 1950s, he noticed that more and more guests asked for televisions in their room so he received permission from management to rent portable televisions to the hotel guests; and

WHEREAS, recognized for his leadership skills, Nathaniel Reid became captain of the bellmen in 1947 and superintendent of service in 1964, a position he held until his retirement in 1986; and

WHEREAS, Nathaniel Reid?s motto was ?Service is my business?; he received the National Bellman of the Year award in 1967 in recognition of his hard work and commitment to excellence; and

WHEREAS, for 40 years, Nathaniel Reid, a true gentleman, graciously welcomed tourists, families, and dignitaries to the Williamsburg Inn, providing them with an outstanding first impression of Williamsburg; and

WHEREAS, a devoted citizen, Nathaniel Reid generously gave of his time and talents in the community as a trustee of the Williamsburg Housing Authority and member of the Williamsburg Social Service Board; he was also a member of Maceo Consolidated Lodge No. 124 and Malachai Chapter No. 61, Royal Arch Mason, and a lifetime member of the NAACP; and

WHEREAS, Nathaniel Reid lived his faith through his actions and as a member of First Baptist Church, where he was an usher and trustee, past president of the Community Men?s Fellowship, and cofounder and president of the Men?s Fellowship; and

WHEREAS, Nathaniel Reid will be fondly remembered for his kind and generous nature and greatly missed by his loving wife of 70 years, Mary Elizabeth Baker Reid; their three children, Natalie, Carolynn, and Nathaniel, and their families; and his numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly note with great sadness the loss of a true service professional and outstanding Virginian, Nathaniel H. Reid, Jr.; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Nathaniel H. Reid, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly?s respect for his memory.

WHEREAS, Nathaniel H. Reid, Jr., a beloved employee of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and community leader, died on March 7, 2009; and

WHEREAS, born into the large and loving family of Nathaniel Reid, Sr., and Nancy Reid, Nathaniel Reid was one of 11 children; and

WHEREAS, Nathaniel Reid attended James City County Training School, where he was an outstanding basketball player, and received a full scholarship to Virginia State College; and

WHEREAS, Nathaniel Reid joined the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation first as a waiter at the old Travis House restaurant before becoming bellman at the Williamsburg Inn; and

WHEREAS, a courteous and tactful man with a ready smile and laugh, Nathaniel Reid provided first-class service to the guests of the Williamsburg Inn, where he and his colleagues served kings and queens, six U.S. presidents, senators, and diplomats; and

WHEREAS, Nathaniel Reid worked diligently to provide superior service to guests; in the early 1950s, he noticed that more and more guests asked for televisions in their room so he received permission from management to rent portable televisions to the hotel guests; and

WHEREAS, recognized for his leadership skills, Nathaniel Reid became captain of the bellmen in 1947 and superintendent of service in 1964, a position he held until his retirement in 1986; and

WHEREAS, Nathaniel Reid?s motto was ?Service is my business?; he received the National Bellman of the Year award in 1967 in recognition of his hard work and commitment to excellence; and

WHEREAS, for 40 years, Nathaniel Reid, a true gentleman, graciously welcomed tourists, families, and dignitaries to the Williamsburg Inn, providing them with an outstanding first impression of Williamsburg; and

WHEREAS, a devoted citizen, Nathaniel Reid generously gave of his time and talents in the community as a trustee of the Williamsburg Housing Authority and member of the Williamsburg Social Service Board; he was also a member of Maceo Consolidated Lodge No. 124 and Malachai Chapter No. 61, Royal Arch Mason and a lifetime member of the NAACP; and

WHEREAS, Nathaniel Reid lived his faith through his actions and as a member of First Baptist Church, where he was an usher and trustee, past president of the Community Men?s Fellowship, and cofounder and president of the Men?s Fellowship; and

WHEREAS, Nathaniel Reid will be fondly remembered for his kind and generous nature and greatly missed by his loving wife of 70 years, Mary Elizabeth Baker Reid; their three children, Natalie, Carolynn, and Nathaniel, and their families; and his numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly note with great sadness the loss of a true service professional and outstanding Virginian, Nathaniel H. Reid, Jr.; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Nathaniel H. Reid, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly?s respect for his memory.