WHEREAS, Patricia Royal Perkinson, a pioneering public servant whose service included a tenure as Secretary of the Commonwealth, died on February 14, 2010; and WHEREAS, a native of Middlesex County, Patricia Perkinson graduated from Highland Springs High School and earned a bachelor's and master's degree from Richmond Professional Institute (now Virginia Commonwealth University); and WHEREAS, an accomplished writer and public relations expert, Patricia Perkinson served as the press aide to Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr., during his first term from 1966 to 1970, at a time when few women held political positions; and WHEREAS, during Governor Godwin's second term from 1974 to 1978, Patricia Perkinson served as Secretary of the Commonwealth, where she assisted the Governor in the appointment of thousands of people to state boards and commissions; and WHEREAS, admired for her hard work and intelligence, Patricia Perkinson also served the Commonwealth as legislative assistant to State Senators Paul Manns and Frederick Gray and as a public relations assistant to Dana B. Hamel, then chancellor of the Virginia Community College System; and WHEREAS, a talented and well-known writer and poet, Patricia Perkinson was a columnist and feature writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch and other publications and performed public relations work for a number of organizations in the Richmond area; and WHEREAS, after a long and successful career, Patricia Perkinson retired in 1987 as the community services director for J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College; and WHEREAS, an inspiring leader in her profession, Patricia Perkinson served as the president of Virginia Press Women, the Old Dominion Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, and the Richmond Public Relations Association; and WHEREAS, Patricia Perkinson received numerous awards and accolades throughout her long and successful career, including being named a Woman of Distinction and twice named Press Woman of the Year by Virginia Press Women; and WHEREAS, Patricia Perkinson generously gave of her time and talents to various civic organizations, including as longtime supporter of the American Cancer Society, for which she served as a local, state, and national board member; and WHEREAS, after her retirement, Patricia Perkinson returned to her beloved Middlesex County, where she became actively involved in the community and worked to promote and preserve the county's rich historic legacy; and WHEREAS, a woman of great vision and determination who cared immensely about her community, profession, and the Commonwealth, Patricia Perkinson served as an outstanding role model for all; and WHEREAS, Patricia Perkinson will be greatly missed by her loving husband, Herbert R. Perkinson, Jr.; her children, Jean and Russ, and their families; and numerous other family members, friends, and admirers; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly note with great sadness the loss of a dedicated public servant and outstanding Virginian, Patricia Royal Perkinson; 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 Patricia Royal Perkinson as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for her memory. |