Virginia 2025 Regular Session

Virginia Senate Bill SJR379 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		2025 SESSION
2	2
3		-	ENROLLED
	3	+	INTRODUCED
	4	+
	5	+	25106758D
4	6
5	7		SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 379
6	8
	9	+	Offered February 13, 2025
	10	+
7	11		Celebrating the life of the Honorable Walter Benjamin Keister, Sr.
8	12
9		-	Agreed to by the Senate, February 19, 2025
10	13
11		-	Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 20, 2025
	14	+
	15	+	PatronsDeeds, Diggs, Ebbin and Reeves; Delegates: Bulova, Cole, Hope, Keys-Gamarra, Laufer, Lopez, Martinez, McQuinn, Orrock, Rasoul and Ware
12	16
13	17
14	18
15	19		WHEREAS, the Honorable Walter Benjamin Keister, Sr., a dedicated public servant who enhanced the quality of life in several communities in Southwest Virginia as a former mayor of the Town of Dublin and a former member of the House of Delegates, died on March 23, 2024; and
16	20
17	21		WHEREAS, Benjamin Benny Keister was born in Radford and was the first baby delivered at the former Radford Community Hospital; and
18	22
19	23		WHEREAS, Benny Keister earned a bachelor's degree from East Tennessee State University and a master's degree from Radford University, then pursued a career in education as a science teacher with Montgomery County Public Schools; and
20	24
21	25		WHEREAS, desirous to be of further service to the community, Benny Keister ran for and was elected to the Dublin City Council; he served in that capacity from 1986 to 1989, then was elected as mayor from 1989 to 1997; and
22	26
23	27		WHEREAS, Benny Keister next served as a member of the House of Delegates from 2000 to 2005, during which time he built bipartisan consensus and supported many pieces of legislation to benefit his district and the Commonwealth as a whole; and
24	28
25	29		WHEREAS, during his tenure as a state lawmaker, Benny Keister strove to be a voice for the rural communities of Southwest Virginia and prioritized outstanding constituent service by working directly with community members to better understand their needs and address their concerns; and
26	30
27	31		WHEREAS, Benny Keister supported regional economic development and played an important role in the establishment of the Pepsi and Gatorade bottling plants in Wytheville and James Hardie Building Products in Pulaski; and
28	32
29	33		WHEREAS, Benny Keister offered his leadership to enhance public safety as a magistrate for the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office and programs director of the New River Valley Regional Jail, and he was a life member of the Pulaski County Life Saving Crew; and
30	34
31	35		WHEREAS, in all of his endeavors, Benny Keister served his community and the Commonwealth with integrity, dignity, and the utmost dedication; and
32	36
33		-	WHEREAS, Benny Keister will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his lifelong partner, Harriet Anderson; his son, Bo, and his family; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
	37	+	WHEREAS, Benny Keister will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his lifelong partner, Harriet Anderson, his son, Bo, and his family; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
34	38
35	39		RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of the Honorable Walter Benjamin Keister, Sr., an esteemed public servant in Southwest Virginia; and, be it
36	40
37	41		RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Honorable Walter Benjamin Keister, Sr., as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.