SJ227: Celebrating the life of James N. Crumbley.


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 227
Celebrating the life of James N. Crumbley.

 

Agreed to by the Senate, March 4, 2020
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 7, 2020

 

WHEREAS, James N. Crumbley, an esteemed veteran and longtime leader of the Port of Virginia and Virginia International Terminals, died on December 6, 2019; and

WHEREAS, James “Jim” Crumbley served in the United States Navy with distinction during World War II as a crew member of a destroyer and was involved in many actions, including the significant Battle of Savo Island in the South Pacific in 1942, demonstrating courage and commitment to the defense of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Jim Crumbley came to Norfolk from the Port of New Orleans in 1949 to work as the assistant general manager of the Norfolk Port and Industrial Authority, moving up to the position of general manager in 1966; and

WHEREAS, in 1952, Jim Crumbley had the vision to form the Hampton Roads Foreign Commerce Club, now the Hampton Roads Global Commerce Council, and to create the Commerce Builder Award that is presented at the Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s annual Virginia Conference on World Trade to foster international trade in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Jim Crumbley innovated port operations by incorporating the new concept of handling ships’ cargo by containers and container cranes in the 1950s and 1960s; he also facilitated the unification of Hampton Roads’ ports and became the general manager of the Virginia International Terminals in 1972, managing the unified ports; and

WHEREAS, from the time he took over as general manager until his retirement in 1987, Jim Crumbley helped the Port of Virginia prosper; his vision and determination unified the port and served the Commonwealth and its citizens by ensuring for generations that the Port of Virginia would be one of the most prosperous and competitive in the United States; and

WHEREAS, throughout his service to the Commonwealth, Jim Crumbley was deeply involved in the development of the commerce and facilities of the Port of Virginia and gave the Commonwealth the benefit of his wisdom and experience; and

WHEREAS, Jim Crumbley was a truly farsighted proponent of intermodal transport in the 1960s, initiating the planning for and the development of a new modern airport passenger terminal, related facilities improvements, and the operational structure that was completed in 1974, all of which have been great successes over the past 50 years; and

WHEREAS, Jim Crumbley served with distinction as a commissioner on the Norfolk Airport Authority and as its chair for a number of years, overseeing the significant expansion of the Norfolk Airport into an international terminal; and

WHEREAS, Jim Crumbley’s vision of a robust education program dedicated to the fields of maritime transportation and supply chain logistics was instrumental in establishing the Old Dominion University International Maritime (Ports & Logistics) Institute and its Advisory Council; and

WHEREAS, from 1991 to 2001, Jim Crumbley served as chair of the Old Dominion University International Maritime (Ports & Logistics) Institute Advisory Council, and his wise counsel, guidance, and leadership over a period of years greatly benefited the institution’s students and faculty; and

WHEREAS, Jim Crumbley will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his children, Eddie and Harriet, and their families; as well as numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of James N. Crumbley, an outstanding civil servant and true gentleman who was committed to making Hampton Roads a world-class location for business in both Virginia and the United States; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare copies of this resolution for presentation to the family of James N. Crumbley and the Virginia Port Authority as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 227
Offered March 2, 2020
Celebrating the life of James N. Crumbley.
Patrons-- Lewis, Cosgrove and DeSteph

WHEREAS, James N. Crumbley, an esteemed veteran and longtime leader of the Port of Virginia and Virginia International Terminals, died on December 6, 2019; and

WHEREAS, James “Jim” Crumbley served in the United States Navy with distinction during World War II as a crew member of a destroyer and was involved in many actions, including the significant Battle of Savo Island in the South Pacific in 1942, demonstrating courage and commitment to the defense of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Jim Crumbley came to Norfolk from the Port of New Orleans in 1949 to work as the assistant general manager of the Norfolk Port and Industrial Authority, moving up to the position of general manager in 1966; and

WHEREAS, in 1952, Jim Crumbley had the vision to form the Hampton Roads Foreign Commerce Club, now the Hampton Roads Global Commerce Council, and to create the Commerce Builder Award that is presented at the Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s annual Virginia Conference on World Trade to foster international trade in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Jim Crumbley innovated port operations by incorporating the new concept of handling ships’ cargo by containers and container cranes in the 1950s and 1960s; he also facilitated the unification of Hampton Roads’ ports and became the general manager of the Virginia International Terminals in 1972, managing the unified ports; and

WHEREAS, from the time he took over as general manager until his retirement in 1987, Jim Crumbley helped the Port of Virginia prosper; his vision and determination unified the port and served the Commonwealth and its citizens by ensuring for generations that the Port of Virginia would be one of the most prosperous and competitive in the United States; and

WHEREAS, throughout his service to the Commonwealth, Jim Crumbley was deeply involved in the development of the commerce and facilities of the Port of Virginia and gave the Commonwealth the benefit of his wisdom and experience; and

WHEREAS, Jim Crumbley was a truly farsighted proponent of intermodal transport in the 1960s, initiating the planning for and the development of a new modern airport passenger terminal, related facilities improvements, and the operational structure that was completed in 1974, all of which have been great successes over the past 50 years; and

WHEREAS, Jim Crumbley served with distinction as a commissioner on the Norfolk Airport Authority and as its chair for a number of years, overseeing the significant expansion of the Norfolk Airport into an international terminal; and

WHEREAS, Jim Crumbley’s vision of a robust education program dedicated to the fields of maritime transportation and supply chain logistics was instrumental in establishing the Old Dominion University International Maritime (Ports & Logistics) Institute and its Advisory Council; and

WHEREAS, from 1991 to 2001, Jim Crumbley served as chair of the Old Dominion University International Maritime (Ports & Logistics) Institute Advisory Council, and his wise counsel, guidance, and leadership over a period of years greatly benefited the institution’s students and faculty; and

WHEREAS, Jim Crumbley will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his children, Eddie and Harriet, and their families; as well as numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of James N. Crumbley, an outstanding civil servant and true gentleman who was committed to making Hampton Roads a world-class location for business in both Virginia and the United States; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare copies of this resolution for presentation to the family of James N. Crumbley and the Virginia Port Authority as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.