HJ891: Commending Robert Bruce Bishop.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 891
Offered February 9, 2007
Commending Robert Bruce Bishop.
Patrons-- Hall and Valentine

WHEREAS, Robert Bruce Bishop, the superb director of church relations for Presbyterian Homes and Family Services, headquartered in Lynchburg, retired on June 30, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Robert Bishop is greatly admired and will be missed by the staff, residents, church groups, and supporters of Presbyterian Homes and Family Services (PHFS) and its Zuni Presbyterian Homes (Zuni), which provides opportunities and services to mentally challenged adults in Fredericksburg, Lynchburg, South Hill, Waynesboro and Zuni, Virginia; and    

WHEREAS, the son of a farmer and homemaker mother, Robert Bishop was born in McKenney, the third of four children; and

WHEREAS, Robert Bishop earned a degree in agriculture from what is now Virginia Tech, was commissioned as a second lieutenant, and served his country in Thailand in the United States Army; and

WHEREAS, upon returning home after two years in the military, Robert Bishop was teaching school at Buckingham High School, when a member of the board of PHFS approached him about working at Zuni; and

WHEREAS, at the time, Zuni offered a residential program where young adults with mental disabilities and disorders could stay a maximum of eight years, and Robert Bishop was instrumental in the establishment of numerous programs fostered by Dr. Bernard Bain, Superintendent of PHFS; and

WHEREAS, Robert Bishop's leadership and support of diverse ideas have enabled Zuni residents to become valuable citizens involved in their communities; and

WHEREAS, over the years, Robert Bishop personally challenged residents by implementing agricultural programs—residents adopted a pig named Ginger and built a pig parlorfor her and other mother hogs, showing their offspring in livestock shows in Smithfield; they also participated in a beef program of over 40 brood cows and a bull named Charlie, producing 5,000 bales of hay every year to feed their livestock; and

WHEREAS, under Robert Bishop's guidance, Zuni residents were involved in horticulture, food service, lawn care, and custodial work and helped with the farm's 700 laying hens, 18 bee hives, apple and peach orchards, 24 acres of peanuts, 40 acres of corn, and five acres of vegetables; and

WHEREAS, Robert Bishop saw to it that each resident attended school for at least one hour each weekday at the Zuni school and many students found employment in businesses in Isle of Wight and Suffolk through the job placement program; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure, Robert Bishop supported the building of a guest lodge so parents would have a place to stay when they visited youth residents, the establishment of the Zuni Benefit Auction and the annual Day in the Country, the building of the greenhouse complex, the establishment of the business Zuni Gourmet Peanuts, as well as the founding of a group of friends of Zuni called the Kuwayes; and

WHEREAS, Robert Bishop has been an inspirational leader and mentor, who is deeply committed to all of Virginia's citizens in need who have mental disabilities and disorders and their families; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate Robert Bruce Bishop for his 34 years of outstanding service to PHFS and the Zuni Center; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Robert Bruce Bishop as an expression of the General Assembly's gratitude for his many contributions and best wishes for a rewarding retirement.