SR40: Celebrating the life of Orris James Rowley III.


SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 40
Celebrating the life of Orris James Rowley III.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, February 20, 2014
 

WHEREAS, Orris James Rowley III, a dedicated member of the Parksley Volunteer Fire Company for 44 years and an active first responder throughout the Eastern Shore, who served the Commonwealth as a magistrate for the Supreme Court of Virginia, died on December 4, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Orris “Jimmy” Rowley joined the volunteer fire company when he was a teenager; he was one of the first certified paramedics on the Eastern Shore and was an emergency medical services (EMS) instructor for many years; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Rowley had served as president and chaplain of the Parksley Volunteer Fire Company; at the time of his death, he was secretary and rescue squad captain of the organization; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Rowley had been president of the Delmarva Volunteer Firemen’s Association and was serving as the group’s chaplain and parliamentarian when he died; and

WHEREAS, as a magistrate for the Supreme Court of Virginia, Jimmy Rowley supervised the 7th Magisterial Region; he was a member of the Virginia Magistrates Association; he kept copies of the state legal code and procedures manuals at home in case he was called after-hours; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Rowley was a 911 dispatcher from 1992 to 2008; to this day, people remember the calm demeanor he had in emergency situations; he was a supervisor at the center and trained other dispatchers; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Rowley, who lived in Parksley, worked to develop and promote best practices among first-response organizations as a member of the Eastern Shore EMS Council; and

WHEREAS, because of his deep involvement in the first-responder community, Jimmy Rowley was considered to be the informal historian of the Accomack County fire and EMS services; he possessed a deep knowledge of local firefighting and rescue squad history; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Rowley was a key supporter of the effort to create a memorial to honor first responders on the Eastern Shore who died in the line of duty; the memorial is expected to be built on the grounds of the Eastern Shore Regional Fire Training Center in Melfa; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Rowley was very involved in the community; he was a Past Master of the former Parksley Lodge No. 325 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (AF/AM) and a member of the Central Lodge No. 300 AF/AM in Onley, where he was an instructor and lecturer; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Rowley was a past exalted ruler for the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks No. 1766; he was secretary of St. Thomas United Methodist Church; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Rowley will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by his uncle, Brice Walker, and his cousins; and by many friends, neighbors, and fellow first responders; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Orris James Rowley III, a member of the Parksley Volunteer Fire Company for 44 years, who worked selflessly to protect the lives and property of his friends and neighbors as a leader of the first-responder community on the Eastern Shore, and who served the Commonwealth as a magistrate for the Supreme Court of Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Orris James Rowley III as an expression of the Senate of Virginia’s respect for his memory.

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 40

Offered February 19, 2014
Celebrating the life of Orris James Rowley III.
Patron-- Lewis

WHEREAS, Orris James Rowley III, a dedicated member of the Parksley Volunteer Fire Company for 44 years who was very active in the first-responder community throughout the Eastern Shore and who served the Commonwealth as a magistrate for the Supreme Court of Virginia, died on December 4, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Orris “Jimmy” Rowley joined the volunteer fire company when he was a teenager; he was one of the first certified paramedics on the Eastern Shore and was an emergency medical services (EMS) instructor for many years; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Rowley had served as president and chaplain of the Parksley Volunteer Fire Company; at the time of his death, he was secretary and rescue squad captain of the organization; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Rowley also had been president of the Delmarva Volunteer Firemen’s Association and was serving as the group’s chaplain and parliamentarian when he died; and

WHEREAS, as a magistrate for the Supreme Court of Virginia, Jimmy Rowley supervised the 7th Magisterial Region; he also was a member of the Virginia Magistrates Association; he kept copies of the state legal code and procedures manuals at home in case he was called after-hours; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Rowley also was a 911 dispatcher from 1992 to 2008; even today, people remember the calm demeanor he had in emergency situations; he also was a supervisor at the center and trained other dispatchers; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Rowley, who lived in Parksley, worked to develop and promote best practices among first-response organizations as a member of the Eastern Shore EMS Council; and

WHEREAS, because of his deep involvement in the first-responder community, Jimmy Rowley was considered to be the informal historian of the Accomack County fire and EMS services; he possessed a deep knowledge of local firefighting and rescue squad history; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Rowley was a key supporter of the effort to create a memorial to honor first responders on the Eastern Shore who died in the line of duty; it is due to be built on the grounds of the Eastern Shore Regional Fire Training Center in Melfa; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Rowley was very involved in the community; he was a past master of the former Parksley Lodge #325 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (AF/AM) and had been a current member of the Central Lodge #300 AF/AM in Onley, where he was an instructor and lecturer; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Rowley also was a past exalted ruler for the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks #1766; he also was secretary of St. Thomas United Methodist Church; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Rowley will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by his uncle, Brice Walker, and his cousins; and by many friends, neighbors, and fellow first responders; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Orris James Rowley III, a member of the Parksley Volunteer Fire Company for 44 years, who worked selflessly to protect the lives and property of his friends and neighbors as a leader of the first-responder community on the Eastern Shore, and who served the Commonwealth as a magistrate for the Supreme Court of Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Orris James Rowley III as an expression of the Senate of Virginia’s respect for his memory.