2025 SESSION
ENROLLED
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 672
Commending Workboat Life, Inc.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 17, 2025
WHEREAS, Workboat Life, Inc., is an organization dedicated to celebrating deadrise boats and their impact on the seafood industry and the history and heritage of the Chesapeake Bay region; and
WHEREAS, deadrise boats were built specifically for the unique environs of the Chesapeake Bay, with hulls designed to enable watermen to safely navigate shallow shoal waters and unpredictable weather while carrying large payloads of seafood; and
WHEREAS, deadrise boats were essential to the success of the seafood industry in the Chesapeake Bay for many years, but the cost of building and maintaining them has seen their use dwindle over time; and
WHEREAS, beyond their role in the local economies of the Chesapeake Bay, deadrise boats are also cherished for their exceptional artistry and craftsmanship and unparalleled beauty; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of its distinctive local character and historical and cultural importance, the Chesapeake Bay Deadrise has been designated as the official boat of the Commonwealth in the Code of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, Workboat Life was founded by lifelong York County resident, Allen Holston, to preserve and pay homage to the history of deadrise boats and their influence on the Chesapeake Bay region; and
WHEREAS, on June 2, 2024, Workboat Life revitalized the Yorktown Workboat Races after a 19-year hiatus, an event demonstrating the power and prowess of deadrise boats for the benefit and enjoyment of individuals and families from throughout the Chesapeake Bay region; and
WHEREAS, to honor the legacy of deadrise boats, the York County Board of Supervisors proclaimed June 2, 2024, to be designated as Chesapeake Bay Deadrise Day in York County; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Workboat Life, Inc., hereby be commended for its efforts to highlight the Chesapeake Bay deadrise's prominent place in the history and culture of the Commonwealth; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Workboat Life, Inc., as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the organization's mission and best wishes for its continued success.