HJ455: Celebrating the life of Roy F. Pritchard, Jr.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 455
Offered February 22, 2008
Celebrating the life of Roy F. Pritchard, Jr.
Patrons-- Oder, BaCote, Gear, Hamilton, Pogge and Ward

WHEREAS, Roy F. Pritchard, Jr., of Hampton, a respected citizen and devoted advocate for people with mental and physical disabilities, died January 29, 2008; and

WHEREAS, a native of West Virginia, Roy “Ted” Pritchard was an outstanding high school football player who was recruited to play at the College of William and Mary, but duty called as the United States became involved in World War II, and he joined the Navy and was assigned to the medical corps with a Marine unit in the South Pacific; and

WHEREAS, after the war, Ted Pritchard became a licensed funeral director in West Virginia, but ultimately he changed careers, moving to Virginia to work at the Amoco Yorktown refinery; and

WHEREAS, Ted Pritchard was a member of the board of trustees of the Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Foundation in Hampton, an organization dedicated to providing vocational and educational services, independent living opportunities, and recreational activities for people with mental retardation and related disabilities; and

WHEREAS, to provide additional revenue for recreation activities at the Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Center, Ted Pritchard organized bingo games that became very popular and were very successful; he also coordinated the support of several area fraternal and service organizations to fund the recreation program, the Special Olympics, and scouting and social activities at the center; and

WHEREAS, Ted Pritchard worked with the Colonial Virginia Council of Boy Scouts of America for over 50 years; he organized two Boy Scout troops in that time as well as Explorer Post 140, the largest Boy Scout special activities group in the United States, which meets at the Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Center; and

WHEREAS, a member of the Lions Club, Moose Lodge, Peninsula Civitan Club, Masons, American Legion Post 25, and VFW 176, Ted Pritchard galvanized the support of these organizations to help him put together one of the most outstanding programs for people with disabilities in the Hampton Roads area; and

WHEREAS, a generous and caring man, Ted Pritchard will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by his wife, Bobby; his son, Dan; his daughters, Patty and Ida; his three grandsons; and many other family members and dear friends; 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 Roy F. Pritchard, Jr., a fine Virginian; 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 Roy F. Pritchard, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.