SR503: Celebrating the life of Franklin Delano Robertson.
WHEREAS, Franklin Delano Robertson, a respected attorney and leader in the mining industry who made countless contributions to the Grundy community, died on January 17, 2021; and
WHEREAS, born in West Virginia, Franklin “Red” Robertson was raised in Kentucky and developed a passion for education at a young age; in his adolescence, he hitchhiked across the border to Virginia each day to take classes at Grundy High School; and
WHEREAS, Red Robertson subsequently graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), where he served as captain commander of the Corps of Cadets and was an original member of the Ut Prosim Society; and
WHEREAS, in 1956, Red Robertson began a career in the mining industry with one of the last independent coal mine operators in Southwest Virginia; he became a partner at the engineering company Thompson and Litton in 1960 and held professional engineering licenses in three states; and
WHEREAS, in 1967, Red Robertson received a law degree from the University of Virginia and became one of the preeminent coal lawyers in the United States, establishing the firm Robertson, Cecil, King & Pruitt; and
WHEREAS, from 1972 to 1985, Red Robertson owned Knox Creek Coal Corporation and subsequently founded Robertson Enterprises; he established partnerships with other companies in the Commonwealth, West Virginia, and Illinois, becoming known as one of the most innovative and effective coal operators in the country; and
WHEREAS, Red Robertson was dedicated to supporting young people in and out of the classroom, coordinating local students’ enrollment in SAT study courses, writing hundreds of recommendation letters for high school seniors, and founding the Grundy Wrestling Club to give young athletes opportunities to hone their skills; and
WHEREAS, Red Robertson also supported local educators by establishing the Buchanan County Apple Award for outstanding teachers, and he remained a proud and active alumnus of Virginia Tech throughout his life; and
WHEREAS, an exemplar of humility and kindness, Red Robertson made anonymous donations to hundreds of charitable organizations and fundraisers, asking to be named only as “a friend”; and
WHEREAS, a man of deep and abiding faith, Red Robertson enjoyed fellowship and worship with the community as a member of Grundy Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Red Robertson’s greatest joy in life was his beloved family, and he will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Bobbie; his children, Shane, Tass, Brant, and Spring, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Franklin Delano Robertson; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Franklin Delano Robertson as an expression of the Senate of Virginia’s respect for his memory.
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 503
WHEREAS, Franklin Delano Robertson, a respected attorney and leader in the mining industry who made countless contributions to the Grundy community, died on January 17, 2021; and
WHEREAS, born in West Virginia, Franklin “Red” Robertson was raised in Kentucky and developed a passion for education at a young age; in his adolescence, he hitchhiked across the border to Virginia each day to take classes at Grundy High School; and
WHEREAS, Red Robertson subsequently graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), where he served as captain commander of the Corps of Cadets and was an original member of the Ut Prosim Society; and
WHEREAS, in 1956, Red Robertson began a career in the mining industry with one of the last independent coal mine operators in Southwest Virginia; he became a partner at the engineering company Thompson and Litton in 1960 and held professional engineering licenses in three states; and
WHEREAS, in 1967, Red Robertson received a law degree from the University of Virginia and became one of the preeminent coal lawyers in the United States, establishing the firm Robertson, Cecil, King & Pruitt; and
WHEREAS, from 1972 to 1985, Red Robertson owned Knox Creek Coal Corporation and subsequently founded Robertson Enterprises; he established partnerships with other companies in the Commonwealth, West Virginia, and Illinois, becoming known as one of the most innovative and effective coal operators in the country; and
WHEREAS, Red Robertson was dedicated to supporting young people in and out the classroom, coordinating local students’ enrollment in SAT study courses, writing hundreds of recommendation letters for high school seniors, and founding the Grundy Wrestling Club to give young athletes opportunities to hone their skills; and
WHEREAS, Red Robertson also supported local educators by establishing the Buchanan County Apple Award for outstanding teachers, and he remained a proud and active alumnus of Virginia Tech throughout his life; and
WHEREAS, an exemplar of humility and kindness, Red Robertson made anonymous donations to hundreds of charitable organizations and fundraisers, asking to be named only as “a friend”; and
WHEREAS, a man of deep and abiding faith, Red Robertson enjoyed fellowship and worship with the community as a member of Grundy Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Red Robertson’s greatest joy in life was his beloved family, and he will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Bobbie; his children, Shane, Tass, Brant, and Spring, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Franklin Delano Robertson; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Franklin Delano Robertson as an expression of the Senate of Virginia’s respect for his memory.