Bill Text: VA HR92 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of James Riley Montgomery.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-02-12 - Bill text as passed House (HR92ER) [HR92 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HR92-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, James Riley Montgomery of Blacksburg, a decorated veteran, respected attorney, and distinguished higher education administrator, died on October 24, 2023; and
WHEREAS, James "Jim" Riley Montgomery grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he graduated from the former Knoxville High School; he was active in sports and earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America, then served as the national conference chief of the Order of the Arrow, the Scouting honor society, in 1950; and
WHEREAS, Jim Montgomery received a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee, then was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army; he subsequently served in the United States Army Reserve for 36 years, earning the Distinguished Service Medal for his leadership of the 310th Theater Army Area Command, and retired with the rank of major general; and
WHEREAS, after his active duty military service, Jim Montgomery continued his education by earning a master's degree from the University of Tennessee and a doctoral degree from Columbia University; and
WHEREAS, Jim Montgomery began his career in higher education with the University of Tennessee and later joined Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech); he pioneered the field of institutional research and planning to help colleges and universities gather accurate data to better inform long-term planning and decision-making; and
WHEREAS, Jim Montgomery was selected as a distinguished member of the Association for Institutional Research and helped establish the Southern Association of Institutional Research, which presented to him the inaugural James R. Montgomery Service Award, named in his honor; and
WHEREAS, after leaving academia, Jim Montgomery earned a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and changed careers, establishing Montgomery Law in Blacksburg, where he served the community for 27 years as an attorney; and
WHEREAS, Jim Montgomery was a generous volunteer leader in Blacksburg, offering his wise counsel to the Virginia Tech YMCA, the local Area Agency on Aging, AARP, the Montgomery County Christmas Store, the Boy Scouts of America, the Rotary Club of Christiansburg-Blacksburg, and the American Legion and other veterans organizations; and
WHEREAS, predeceased by his beloved wife of 59 years, Mary, Jim Montgomery will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his children, Charles, James, and April, and their families, 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 James Riley Montgomery, who made numerous contributions to the Commonwealth and was a visionary leader in higher education; 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 Riley Montgomery as an expression of the House of Delegates' respect for his memory.
