Bill Text: VA HR113 | 2020 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of James Wesley Epperly.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2020-03-02 - Bill text as passed House (HR113ER) [HR113 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-HR113-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, James Wesley Epperly, the longtime chief of the Christiansburg Fire Department who proudly served the community for 54 years, died on March 19, 2019; and
WHEREAS, after joining the Christiansburg Fire Department, James "Jimmy" Wesley Epperly worked hard and with true purpose, achieving the ranks of firefighter, engineer and training officer, lieutenant, and captain; and
WHEREAS, in 1971, Jimmy Epperly fulfilled his lifelong dream when he was elected chief, a position that he held for 38 years until his retirement in 2009; and
WHEREAS, in 1972, Jimmy Epperly received a letter from President Richard M. Nixon which recognized his dedication to fire prevention; and
WHEREAS, Jimmy Epperly was elected president of the Southwest Virginia Firefighters Association from 1974 to 1975 and was subsequently named as a life member in 1990; and
WHEREAS, in 1985, Governor Charles Robb appointed Jimmy Epperly to the Virginia Fire Services Board; and
WHEREAS, Jimmy Epperly served as vice president, president, and owner of Epperly Pontiac-GMC Trucks until 1988; and
WHEREAS, in 1988, Jimmy Epperly was hired by the Town of Christiansburg to be the first paid, full-time fire chief and was recognized as both the youngest and longest-serving chief in the history of the department; and
WHEREAS, Jimmy Epperly will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Linda Holbrook Epperly; their five children, Jennifer Epperly McDonald, Paula Epperly Walker, J. Wesley Epperly II, Katlyn Epperly Garner, and Christopher "Cade" Kark; his brother, Larry Alton Epperly; his stepchildren, Marla Mundy and Mike Mundy; his cousin, Eugene Argabaright; his grandchildren, Mitchell Myers, Erin Myers, Brayden Epperly, Kylee Epperly, Elizabeth Walker, Anna Leigh Walker, Owen Ward, and Oliver Garner; and his step-grandchildren, Jordan McDonald, Maddie McDonald, Cody Doyon, Morgan Mundy, Logan Mundy, Jaxon Mundy, Kendyl Mundy, and Knox Mundy; and
WHEREAS, Jimmy Epperly is survived by the members of the Christiansburg Fire Department, Christiansburg Rescue Department, Christiansburg Hunt Club, and Montgomery Game and Fish Club; 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 James Wesley Epperly, a pillar of the Christiansburg 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 James Wesley Epperly as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.
