HJ254: Celebrating the life of William Harvey McWilliams, Jr.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 254
Celebrating the life of William Harvey McWilliams, Jr.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 28, 2022
Agreed to by the Senate, March 3, 2022

 

WHEREAS, William Harvey McWilliams, Jr., an honorable veteran; accomplished printmaker, curator, and designer; and a beloved member of the Richmond community, died on December 30, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Harvey McWilliams attended the former East Carolina College for two years before courageously serving his country as a codebreaker with the United States Army during the Korean War; and

WHEREAS, following his service, Harvey McWilliams earned a bachelor’s degree in interior design from the Richmond Professional Institute, now Virginia Commonwealth University; and

WHEREAS, following a brief foray in Washington, D.C., Harvey McWilliams began his career in the commercial design department of the former Virginia-based department store chain Miller & Rhoads, where his accomplishments included designing the original interior of St. Mary’s Hospital in Richmond; and

WHEREAS, Harvey McWilliams subsequently returned to Virginia Commonwealth University, where in 1960 he became the first person to receive a master’s degree in printmaking from the school; and

WHEREAS, Harvey McWilliams was then employed by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, curating exhibits for the museum’s art-mobile and supporting its operations around the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Harvey McWilliams’ artistic ventures included work as a graphic designer for the Library of Virginia and as an artist-in-residence at the Virginia Center for the Humanities; and

WHEREAS, Harvey McWilliams was equally a master of the culinary arts and founded Mainly Pasta, one of Richmond’s first gourmet take-out eateries, in the early 1980s, remaining a chef there for more than 15 years; and

WHEREAS, a prolific printmaker in his life who began exploring furniture design in his later years, Harvey McWilliams’ works have been accessioned by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, as well as featured in the museum’s gift shop; and

WHEREAS, Harvey McWilliams fostered the Richmond arts community through his involvement with the Firehouse Theatre, serving on the organization’s board and providing catering services at many of its events; and

WHEREAS, preceded in death by his loving husband and companion of 20 years, Ken, Harvey McWilliams will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his sisters, Carrie and Lynda, and their families and by numerous other family members and 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 William Harvey McWilliams, Jr., a multi-talented artist whose passion, creativity, and generosity left a profound and lasting impact on the Richmond community; 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 William Harvey McWilliams, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 254

Offered February 21, 2022
Celebrating the life of William Harvey McWilliams, Jr.

Patrons-- Carr, Convirs-Fowler, Hope, Jenkins, Maldonado, Rasoul, Reid, Simonds and Willett; Senators: Boysko, Hashmi and Howell

WHEREAS, William Harvey McWilliams, Jr., an honorable veteran; accomplished printmaker, curator, and designer; and a beloved member of the Richmond community, died on December 30, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Harvey McWilliams attended the former East Carolina College for two years before courageously serving his country as a codebreaker with the United States Army during the Korean War; and

WHEREAS, following his service, Harvey McWilliams earned a bachelor’s degree in interior design from the Richmond Professional Institute, now Virginia Commonwealth University; and

WHEREAS, following a brief foray in Washington, D.C., Harvey McWilliams began his career in the commercial design department of the former Virginia-based department store chain Miller & Rhoads, where his accomplishments included designing the original interior of St. Mary’s Hospital in Richmond; and

WHEREAS, Harvey McWilliams subsequently returned to Virginia Commonwealth University, where in 1960 he became the first person to receive a master’s degree in printmaking from the school; and

WHEREAS, Harvey McWilliams was then employed by the Virginia Museum of Fine Art, curating exhibits for the museum’s art-mobile and supporting its operations around the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Harvey McWilliams’ artistic ventures also included work as a graphic designer for the Library of Virginia and as an artist-in-residence at the Virginia Center for the Humanities; and

WHEREAS, Harvey McWilliams was equally a master of the culinary arts and founded Mainly Pasta, one of Richmond’s first gourmet take-out eateries, in the early 1980s, remaining a chef there for more than 15 years; and

WHEREAS, a prolific printmaker in his life who began exploring furniture design in his later years, Harvey McWilliams’ works have been accessioned by the Virginia Museum of Art, as well as featured in the museum’s gift shop; and

WHEREAS, Harvey McWilliams also fostered the Richmond arts community through his involvement with the Firehouse Theatre, serving on the organization’s board and providing catering services at many of its events; and

WHEREAS, preceded in death by his loving husband and companion of 20 years, Ken, Harvey McWilliams will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his sisters, Carrie and Lynda, and their families and by numerous other family members and 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 William Harvey McWilliams, Jr., a multi-talented artist whose passion, creativity, and generosity left a profound and lasting impact on the Richmond community; 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 William Harvey McWilliams, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.