Bill Text: VA SJR135 | 2022 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Floyd D. Gottwald.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2022-02-28 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ135ER) [SJR135 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2022-SJR135-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Floyd D. Gottwald, an esteemed business executive and philanthropist, honorable veteran, and beloved member of the Richmond community, died on January 27, 2022; and
WHEREAS, known among friends and family as "Bill," Floyd Gottwald graduated from John Marshall High School in Richmond before earning a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the Virginia Military Institute in 1943; and
WHEREAS, Floyd Gottwald courageously served his country with the United States Army during World War II; as a result of his heroic service as a lieutenant in the China-Burma-India theatre, he was awarded both a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal with a "V" for valor; and
WHEREAS, Floyd Gottwald joined the Albemarle Paper Manufacturing Company as a chemist in 1943 and quickly rose through the ranks of production manager, corporate secretary, vice president, and president; and
WHEREAS, after helping Albermarle Paper Manufacturing Company negotiate its noteworthy acquisition of the Ethyl Corporation in 1962, Floyd Gottwald served as vice president of Ethyl Corporation and as vice chairman of its board in the 1960s before ultimately serving as chief executive officer from 1970 to 1992; and
WHEREAS, when Ethyl Corporation spun off its specialty chemical business as Albemarle Corporation in 1994, Floyd Gottwald assumed the positions of chairman and chief executive officer, fulfilling the responsibilities of each until 2001 and 2002, respectively; he was then elected chairman emeritus of the company in 2007; and
WHEREAS, Floyd Gottwald's leadership in business also included serving as a director of Ethyl Corporation, Tredegar Corporation, the American Petroleum Institute, CSX Corporation, First Colony Life Insurance Company, the Council for Financial Aid to Education, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, while he was a member of The Conference Board and the Virginia Business Council; and
WHEREAS, Floyd Gottwald was active in the community and gave generously of his time and talents as president of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the VMI Foundation, as trustee of the University of Richmond and a member of the Board of Visitors of The College of William and Mary, and as a trustee and advisory council member of the George C. Marshall Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Floyd Gottwald was the recipient of a plethora of accolades in his lifetime, including the Medallion Award from The College of William and Mary; the Distinguished Service Award from the VMI Foundation; honorary degrees from the University of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Union University, and The College of William and Mary; and the Outstanding Virginian Award, the Commonwealth's highest honor; and
WHEREAS, an avid hunter and fisherman who notably won the 1976 Masters Angling Tournament, Floyd Gottwald cultivated his passion for the outdoors as an early member of the Virginia Anglers Club in Richmond and as a trustee emeritus of the International Game Fish Association; and
WHEREAS, preceded in death by his first wife, Elisabeth, Floyd Gottwald will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his wife of 17 years, Helga; his children, William, James, and John, 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 Floyd D. Gottwald, a respected business leader and philanthropist of the Richmond community whose vision and dedication left a profound and lasting legacy; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Floyd D. Gottwald as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.
