2021-04-04 Support for naming William H. Pritchett Memorial Bridge PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
RESOLUTION # 2021-04-04
SUPPORT FOR NAMING THE BUSINESS U.S. 29 NORTH BRIDGE IN BLAIRS,
VIRGINIA,THE"WILLIAM H. PRITCHETT MEMORIAL BRIDGE"
VIRGINIA: At the Regular Meeting of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors
("Board")held on April 20, 2021, the following Resolution was presented and adopted:
WHEREAS, the Board is committed to recognizing and celebrating Pittsylvania County,
Virginia's ("County")historical heritage and contributions made thereto by its citizens; and
WHEREAS,William H. Pritchett("Pritchett"), a former Banister resident and a respected
County leader and community supporter,was born on September 3, 1927,died at the age of eighty-
eight (88) on May 7, 2016; and
WHEREAS, Pritchett was married to his wife, Lillie, for sixty-three (63) years and had a
son, Cedric; and
WHEREAS, Pritchett graduated from Langston High School, attended Danville
Community College,and earned an Associate Degree in Business from Christian Brothers College
in Memphis, Tennessee; and
WHEREAS, Pritchett honorably served his Country as a member of the United States
Army for two (2)years; and
WHEREAS, Pritchett was the District Manager at Universal Life Insurance Company
until he retired in 1993; and
WHEREAS, Pritchett began his exemplary career with the County in 1992, when he was
elected the Board's first African American representative, and the first elected official of the
County's newly formed Banister District,the County's first majority minority District; and
WHEREAS,Pritchett served with distinction on the Board for(20)years representing the
interest of all the citizens in both the Banister District and the County; and
WHEREAS, Pritchett, retired from the Board in 2011, having served as the Board's
Chairman in 1996 and Board Vice-Chairman on seven(7) different occasions; and
WHEREAS,Pritchett tirelessly gave his time and effort to improve service to the County
on the following Board subcommittees: Finance, Solid Waste, Personnel, Property and Building,
Legislative, Computer Telecommunications, Fire and Rescue Policy Board, and the Board/School
Board Liaison Committee, and the Joint Sites and Facilities Committee; and
WHEREAS, Pritchett also served numerous years on the Pittsylvania County Social
Services Board, the Pittsylvania County Community Services Board, the Pittsylvania County
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Community Action Agency, the Pittsylvania County Planning Commission, the Danville-
Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facilities Authority Board, and the Danville-Pittsylvania County
Small Business Development Center; and
WHEREAS,Pritchett also served as a leader in organizing the West Piedmont Work Force
Investment Board, and served for over ten (10) years as Chairman of the Local Elected Officials
Consortium; and
WHEREAS, a longtime member of Bethel Baptist Church, Pritchett served as a Sunday
School Superintendent for over forty(40)years and provided inspired leadership as Deacon Board
Chair; and
WHEREAS, Pritchett was honored for his many contributions to the County on October
29, 2011, at a retirement celebration that drew over two-hundred and fifty (250) attendees and
featured speakers from the community who praised his many contributions; and
WHEREAS, Pritchett, through his dedication and leadership, also contributed to major
developments in County education, economic development, recreation, and community
development; and
WHEREAS, § 33.2-213 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, authorizes the
Commonwealth Transportation Board ("CTB")to give suitable names to state highways,bridges,
interchanges, and other transportation facilities and change the names of any highways and
bridges, interchanges, or other transportation facilities forming a part of the systems of state
highways; and
WHEREAS, the same Virginia Code Section further provides that the Virginia
Department of Transportation("VDOT")shall place and maintain appropriate signs indicating the
names of highways, bridges, interchanges, and other transportation facilities named by the CTB
and requires that the costs of producing, placing, and maintaining such signs shall be paid by the
localities in which they are located.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Board fully and
enthusiastically supports the naming of the Business 29 North Bridge in Blairs, Virginia, the
location of said bridge depicted in more detail on the map attached hereto and made a part fully
hereof, as the"William H. Pritchett Memorial Bridge;" and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County agrees to pay the costs of producing,
placing, and maintaining the signs calling attention to this naming; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the Pritchett
family, appropriate local VDOT officials, and the CTB for consideration.
Given under my hand this 20th day of April, 2021.
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Robert ("Bob") W. Warren (Chairman)
., = Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors
�f w.
I - avid M. Smit an (Clerk)
Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors
Approved as to Form:
J, Vajc
J. Vaden Hunt, Esq.
Pittsylvania County Attorney
Vote
Robert ("Bob") W. Warren, Chairman Yes
Ronald S. Scearce, Vice Chair Yes
William V. ("Vic") Ingram Yes
Joe B. Davis Yes
Charles H. Miller, Jr. Yes
Ben L. Farmer Yes
Tim W. Dudley Yes
Ayes Z Nays 4 Abstentions 0
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