Bill Text: VA SJR135 | 2020 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of William Bidgood Wall, Sr.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2020-03-02 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ135ER) [SJR135 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-SJR135-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, William Bidgood Wall, Sr., longtime owner and manager of The Farmville Herald and beloved member of the community he served, died on January 8, 2020; and
WHEREAS, in his formative years, William "Bill" Wall achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and graduated from the prestigious St. Christopher's School in Richmond and Hampden-Sydney College; at both schools, he was an accomplished football player who competed with the best players in the state; and
WHEREAS, after post-graduate studies at the Babson Institute, Bill Wall attended officer candidate school and joined the United States Navy, serving as a communications officer on the aircraft carrier USS Salerno Bay and ultimately attaining the rank of lieutenant junior grade; and
WHEREAS, concluding his military service, Bill Wall returned to Farmville in 1954 to join his father in managing The Farmville Herald, where he devoted the rest of his career to reporting and printing the news for his community; and
WHEREAS, under Bill Wall's stewardship, The Farmville Herald went from being published weekly to triweekly and grew to become the 10th largest non-daily news publication in the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, the success of The Farmville Herald could largely be attributed to Bill Wall's emphasis on local news, whereby he used the paper's network of community correspondents to deliver the minute updates of town life that mattered most to the publication's readers; and
WHEREAS, Bill Wall was honored by the Virginia Press Association for his support of the newspaper industry throughout his illustrious career at The Farmville Herald, which spanned more than 60 years; and
WHEREAS, Bill Wall's creativity extended beyond his work as a newsman, as he established the WVHL-FM radio station in the early 1990s, won awards for his photography, and distinguished himself as a keen and compelling writer; and
WHEREAS, a lifelong resident of Farmville, Bill Wall served his community as a member of the town council from 1962 through 2002, passionately advocating on behalf of his constituents and their interests; and
WHEREAS, as a member of the Rural Education Foundation Board and the Board of Directors for Prince Edward Academy, Bill Wall promoted academic excellence for the benefit of countless children; and
WHEREAS, inspired by his faith to live compassionately and care for others, Bill Wall enjoyed worship and fellowship with his community at Johns Memorial Episcopal Church in Farmville, where he served on the vestry and taught Sunday school; and
WHEREAS, preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Iris, Bill Wall will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his sons, William, Jr., and Steven, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of William Bidgood Wall, Sr., a fixture in the Farmville community who will be cherished for many years; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of William Bidgood Wall, Sr., as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.
