WHEREAS, William Reese Hess of Richlands, an honorable veteran, hard-working coal miner, lifelong Virginian, and beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, died on December 9, 2023, at age 96; and

WHEREAS, after attending Richlands High School, William "Bill" Reese Hess began his career as a coal miner in 1945, then was drafted on November 8, 1945, and served as a corporal in the United States Army Air Forces during the Occupation of Japan at the conclusion of World War II; and

WHEREAS, Bill Hess completed training at Fort Meade in Maryland, Fort McClellan in Alabama, and Camp Stoneman in California before departing for Japan; and

WHEREAS, Bill Hess arrived in Yokohama, Japan, on March 30, 1946, and remained there for nine and a half months before being honorably discharged and returning to Richlands in February 1947; and

WHEREAS, upon his return to the United States, Bill Hess resumed his career as a coal miner and ultimately worked 42 years for the Jewell Ridge Coal Corporation, the Pittston Coal Company, and at Sea B Mining No. 2 in addition to the Jewell Valley No. 2 and No. 11 mines, until his retirement in 1987; and

WHEREAS, Bill Hess joined the United Mine Workers of America in 1945 and was a 78-year member of UMWA Local No. 1760 in Seaboard at the time of his death; and

WHEREAS, Bill Hess served the community for five decades as a member of the Richlands Masonic Lodge No. 318 A.F. and A.M., Scottish Rite, Kazim Temple, and the Tazewell-Russell Shrine Club, where he was named Shriner of the Year in 2000; and

WHEREAS, Bill Hess was strong in his faith and enjoyed serving the congregations at the West Fork Presbyterian Chapel and Richlands Presbyterian Church for more than 40 years as an elder, Sunday school superintendent, Sunday school teacher, and chair of various committees; and

WHEREAS, at the time of his death, Bill Hess had been a 23-year member of the First Christian Church in Richlands, where he was an elder and a member of the Christian Men's Fellowship; and

WHEREAS, outside of his career, faith, and community service, Bill Hess enjoyed Virginia Tech football, professional baseball and football, camping, "old-time" country music, working in his garden, and giving away vegetables to his family, friends, neighbors, and church family; and

WHEREAS, predeceased by his wife of more than 70 years, Clara, and one son, William, Jr., Bill Hess will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his son, John; grandson, Brady; daughter-in-law, Lynnette; sister, Helen; sister-in-law, Peggy; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of William Reese Hess; 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 Reese Hess as an expression of the House of Delegates' respect for his memory.