SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24108877DSENATE IRESOLUTION SENATOfferedNO. March 7, 2024 N Celebrating the life of Allan Roberts.

––––––––––145 TE Patron––PillionCelebrating Rthe ––––––––––life O WHEREAS, Allan Roberts, a public servant, entrepreneur, and man of deep faith who touched countless lives in the Gate City community through his leadership and kindness, died on OctoberD6, 202WHEREAS, Allan "Cotton"Roberts. Roberts grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee, and graduated from Ketron U High School;

heN subsequentlyR earnedAgreed ato bachelor'sby degreethe fromSenate, SteedMarch College,8, then2024 servedWHEREAS, hisAllan countryRoberts, ina thepublic Unitedservant, Statesentrepreneur, Armyand asman anof MGM-31deep Pershingfaith missilewho crewtouched memberO stationedcountless lives in Germanythe duringGate theCity Coldcommunity War;through his leadership and kindness, died on October 6, L 2023;

and EL WHEREAS,High CottonSchool; Roberts joined Eastman Chemical Company in an entry-level position and retired as a senior team manager after a distinguished career;

andhe Dsubsequently localearned businessa thatbachelor's contributeddegree tofrom Steed College, then served his country iE the revitalizationUnited ofStates downtownArmy Gateas City;an MGM-31 Pershing missile crew member stationed in Germany during the Cold War;

they subsequently opened two other businesses and renovatedD otheras propertiesa forsenior retailteam developmentmanager inafter thea area;distinguished career;

and in an entry-level position and retired WHEREAS, in later life Cotton Roberts wasand alsohis awife, foundingVickie, memberopened ofThe GateFamily CityBakery, Frontier, a nonprofitbeloved organizationlocal dedicatedbusiness that contributed to promotingthe revitalization of downtown Gate City;

andthey WHEREAS,subsequently opened twoWHEREAS, Cotton Roberts furtherwas supportedalso the community as a founding member of the Gate City TownFrontier, Council for more than a decade,nonprofitand includingorganization adedicated termto aspromoting vicedowntown mayor;Gate City;

and footballS teamWHEREAS, andCotton Roberts further supported the community as a baseballmember travelof teamthe Gate City Town 1 Council for themore Americanthan Amateura Baseballdecade, Congress;including a term as vice mayor;

heand also5 relishedfootball everyteam opportunity to support his sons and nephewsa whenbaseball theytravel playedteam for Gatethe CityAmerican HighAmateur SchoolBaseball teams;Congress;

and 5 WHEREAS, Cotton Roberts enjoyed fellowship and worship with the community as a member of First Baptist Church Gate City, where he servedalso asrelishedR aevery deacon,opportunity startedto asupport youthhis program,sons was active in missionary work, and wasnephews awhen coachthey andplayed refereefor inGate theCity UpwardHigh BasketballSchool programteams; for many years;

and Vickie;First Baptist Church Gate City, where he served as a deacon, started a youth program, was active in missionary work, and was a coach and referee in the Upward Basketball program for many years;

hisand children,WHEREAS, Elizabeth,Cotton Aaron,Roberts andwill Christopher,be fondly remembered and theirgreatly families;missed by his wife of 45 years, members and friends;

andnow, numeroustherefore, otherbe familyitd membersChristopher, and friends;their families;

now,and therefore,numerous beother itfamily RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Allan Roberts;

and, be it RESOLVEDpresentation FURTHER,to That the Clerkfamily of theAllan SenateRoberts prepareas aan copyexpression of thisthe resolutionSenate of Virginia's respect for :his memory.

35 presentation to the family of Allan Roberts as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's respect for his 36 memory.