HJ449: Commending Bob Brown.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 449
Commending Bob Brown.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 12, 2022
Agreed to by the Senate, March 12, 2022

 

WHEREAS, Bob Brown, a senior photographer with the Richmond Times-Dispatch will retire in March 2022 after a distinguished 54-year career in photojournalism; and

WHEREAS, growing up in the Shenandoah Valley, Bob Brown developed a passion for exploration and the beauty of the natural world from a young age; he was a talented vocalist in his youth, singing in his church choir, as a member of the all-state chorus, and later in a barbershop chorus, The Virginians; and

WHEREAS, Bob Brown attended art school at what is now Virginia Commonwealth University, but changed majors in his second year after discovering his passion and talent for photography; and

WHEREAS, after graduation, Bob Brown was hired by WRVA-TV as a film editor, and during his 10 years in television, he made occasional appearances on “The Sailor Bob Show” and further honed his musical talents by writing and recording jingles for commercials; and

WHEREAS, Bob Brown began his career in photography by shooting promotional still photos for local businesses as a freelancer, and his exceptional work caught the attention of local newspaper editors who invited him to apply for a job; and

WHEREAS, in 1968, Bob Brown joined the Richmond Times-Dispatch and covered a wide range of local, state, and national stories, from high school sports and extreme weather events to 11 national political conventions and nine presidential inaugurations, from Jimmy Carter in 1977 to Barack Obama in 2009; and

WHEREAS, Bob Brown was first assigned to cover a session of the General Assembly in 1970 and has since become an institution on Capitol Square, working and building strong relationships with 13 Governors and generations of state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle; and

WHEREAS, throughout his tenure at the Virginia State Capitol, Bob Brown produced meaningful and engaging photos that have given Richmond Times-Dispatch readers a window into the everyday interactions and operations of the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, Bob Brown has earned the admiration of his colleagues for his commitment to treating every assignment with the utmost care and professionalism, as well as his keen creative eye and his ability to portray the fascinating nuance of even the most mundane scenes; and

WHEREAS, Bob Brown has been a trusted mentor to countless other photographers and members of the Richmond Times-Dispatch staff, and his presence during sessions of the General Assembly will be deeply felt and sorely missed; and

WHEREAS, among many honors and accolades, Bob Brown was named the Virginia News Photographer of the Year three times and received the Miley Award from the Virginia News Photographers Association in 1985 and the George Mason Award from the Society of Professional Journalists Virginia Pro Chapter in 2014; he was inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Virginia Capital Correspondents Association Hall of Fame in 2018; and

WHEREAS, Bob Brown has published several collections of his photography, including a set of humorous outtakes from his time at the General Assembly, and the Back Roads series of books that document the interesting people and places he has encountered in his travels throughout the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, after his retirement, Bob Brown looks forward to spending more time with his beloved family, including his wife, Evelyn, and their five children, two step-daughters, and 12 grandchildren; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Bob Brown, an esteemed senior photographer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, on the occasion of his well-earned retirement; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Bob Brown as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his prolific body of work and achievements as a photojournalist and gratitude for his outstanding service to the residents of the Commonwealth.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 449

Offered March 8, 2022
Commending Bob Brown.
Patron-- McQuinn

WHEREAS, Bob Brown, a senior photographer with the Richmond Times-Dispatch will retire in March 2022 after a distinguished 54-year career in photojournalism; and

WHEREAS, growing up in the Shenandoah Valley, Bob Brown developed a passion for exploration and the beauty of the natural world from a young age; he was also a talented vocalist in his youth, singing in his church choir, as a member of the all-state chorus, and later in a barbershop chorus, The Virginians; and

WHEREAS, Bob Brown attended art school at what is now Virginia Commonwealth University, but changed majors in his second year after discovering his passion and talent for photography; and

WHEREAS, after graduation, Bob Brown was hired by WRVA-TV as a film editor, and during his 10 years in television, he also made occasional appearances on “The Sailor Bob Show” and further honed his musical talents by writing and recording jingles for commercials; and

WHEREAS, Bob Brown began his career in photography by shooting promotional still photos for local businesses as a freelancer, and his exceptional work caught the attention of local newspaper editors who invited him to apply for a job; and

WHEREAS, in 1968, Bob Brown joined the Richmond Times-Dispatch and covered a wide range of local, state, and national stories, from high school sports and extreme weather events to 11 national political conventions and nine presidential inaugurations, from Jimmy Carter in 1977 to Barack Obama in 2009; and

WHEREAS, Bob Brown was first assigned to cover a session of the General Assembly in 1970 and has since become an institution on Capitol Square, working and building strong relationships with 13 Governors and generations of state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle; and

WHEREAS, throughout his tenure at the Virginia State Capitol, Bob Brown produced meaningful and engaging photos that have given Richmond Times-Dispatch readers a window into the everyday interactions and operations of the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, Bob Brown has earned the admiration of his colleagues for his commitment to treating every assignment with the utmost care and professionalism, as well as his keen creative eye and his ability to portray the fascinating nuance of even the most mundane scenes; and

WHEREAS, Bob Brown has been a trusted mentor to countless other photographers and members of the Richmond Times-Dispatch staff, and his presence during sessions of the General Assembly will be deeply felt and sorely missed; and

WHEREAS, among many honors and accolades, Bob Brown was named the Virginia News Photographer of the Year three times and received the Miley Award from the Virginia News Photographers Association in 1985 and the George Mason Award from the Society of Professional Journalists Virginia Pro Chapter in 2014; he was also inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Virginia Capital Correspondents Association Hall of Fame in 2018; and

WHEREAS, Bob Brown has published several collections of his photography, including a set of humorous outtakes from his time at the General Assembly, and the Back Roads series of books that document the interesting people and places he has encountered in his travels throughout the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, after his retirement, Bob Brown looks forward to spending more time with his beloved family, including his wife, Evelyn, and their five children, two step-daughters, and 12 grandchildren; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Bob Brown, an esteemed senior photographer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, on the occasion of his well-earned retirement; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Bob Brown as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his prolific body of work and achievements as a photojournalist and gratitude for his outstanding service to the residents of the Commonwealth.