WHEREAS, Kenneth Gene Fannon, a highly admired community leader who dedicated a lifetime of service to his fellow residents of Duffield, died on October 10, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Kenneth "Kenny" Gene Fannon grew up in Scott County, where he attended Rye Cove High School, and after graduating from Whitney Business College, he pursued a career as co-owner and vice president of Robinette Steel and Scrap Metal Co. in Big Stone Gap; and

WHEREAS, Kenny Fannon served his country during the Korean War as a member of the United States Army and proudly supported his fellow veterans as commander of Chapter 250 of the Korean War Veterans Association and the longtime organizer of the Duffield Veterans' Dinner; and

WHEREAS, Kenny Fannon was best known as the founder and longtime chair of the Duffield Daze Festival, a beloved local event featuring fireworks, live music, and family-friendly activities every Labor Day; and

WHEREAS, Kenny Fannon was a founding member of the Duffield Ruritan Club and the Duffield Lions Club and offered his insights and expertise to many other organizations, including the Salvation Army, Boy Scouts of America, and Virginia State Parks; and

WHEREAS, Kenny Fannon further supported the community through his work with the Scott County Chamber of Commerce, Scott County School Board, Scott County Planning Commission, Scott County Industrial Development Authority, Duffield Development Authority, and Duffield Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad; and

WHEREAS, Kenny Fannon helped preserve the history of Southwest Virginia and eastern Tennessee as a member of the National Railway Historical Society for 51 years and the owner of the Fannon Train Museum, which features refurbished engines, railcars, and other artifacts; and

WHEREAS, Kenny Fannon will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife of 70 years, Jean; his children, Jack and Lori, and their families; and 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 Kenneth Gene Fannon, a pillar of the Duffield 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 Kenneth Gene Fannon as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.