SR 94 — Celebrating the life of William Reese Hess.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24108352D I SENATE RESOLUTION NO.

94 NE Offered February 27, 2024 Celebrating the life of William Reese Hes––––––––––Hess. T Patron––Hackworth R –––––––––– WHEREAS, William Reese Hess of Richlands, an honorable veteran, hard-working coal miner, O life-long Virginian, and beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, died on DecemDer 9, 2023, at age 96;

andN WHEREAS,Agreed afterto attendingby Richlandsthe HighSenate, School,February William29, "Bill"2024 HessR beganO hislife-long careerVirginian, asand abeloved coalhusband, Armyfather, Airgrandfather, Forcesuncle, duringand thefriend, Occupationdied ofon JapanDecember at9, theL conclusion2023, ofat Worldage War96; II;

andUnitedand StaCesL WHEREAS, Billafter attending Richlands High School, William "Bill" Hess completedbegan traininghis atcareer Fortas Meadea incoal Maryland,Army FortAir McClellanForces induring Alabama,the EOccupation andof CampJapan Stonemanat inthe Californiaconclusion beforeof departingWorld forWar Japan;II;

andandUnited States E WHEREAS, Bill Hess arrivedcompleted intraining Yokohama,at Japan,Fort onMeade Marchin 30,Maryland, 1946,Fort andMcClellan remainedin thereAlabama, forD nine and aCamp halfStoneman monthsin California before beingdeparting honorablyfor dischargedJapan; and returning to Richlands in February 1947;

and WHEREAS, Bill Hess arrived in Yokohama, Japan, on March 30, 1946, and remained there for nine andWHEREAS, upon his return to the United States, Bill Hess resumed his career as a coal miner andandnd ultimately worked 42 years for the Jewell Ridge Coal Corporation, the Pittston Coal Company, and at 1987;Sea B Mining No.

anding No.

11 mines, until his retirement in WHEREAS,198WHEREAS, Bill Hess joined the United Mine Workers of America in 1945 and was a 78-year R member of UMWA Local No.

and 4 WHEREAS, Bill Hess served the community for five decades as a member of the Richlands MasoniSMasonic R Lodge No.

and A.M., Scottish Rite, Kazim Temple, and the Tazewell-Russell Shrine Club,9Club, wherewheWHEREAS, heBill Hess was namedstrong Shrinerin ofhis faith and enjoyed serving the Yearcongregations inat 2000;the West Fork Presbyterian Chapel and Richlands Presbyterian Church for more than 40 years as an elder, Sunday school superintendent, Sunday school teacher, and chair of various committees;

and 4Church WHEREAS,in BillRichlands, Hesswhere he was strongan inelder his faith and enjoyeda servingmember theof congregations at the WestChristian schoolMen's superintendent,Fellowship; Sunday school teacher, and chair of various committees;

andasandan anWHEREAS, elder,outside Sundayof WHEREAS,his atcareer, thefaith, timeand ofcommunity hisservice, death, Bill Hess hadenjoyed beenVirginia aTech 23-yearfootball, memberprofessional ofbaseball theand Firstfootball, Christiancamping, Church"old-time" country music, working in Richlands,his wheregarden, heand wasgiving anaway eldervegetables andto ahis memberfamily, offriends, theneighbors, Christianand Men'schurch Fellowship;family;

and WHEREAS, outside of his career, faith, and community service, Bill Hess enjoyedwill Virginiabe Techfondly football,remembered professional baseball and football,greatly camping,missed "old-time"by country music, working in his garden,son, andJohn; giving away vegetables to his family, friends, neighbors, and church family;

andgrandson, WHEREAS,Brady; predeceased by his wife of more than 70 years, Clara, and one son, William, Jr., Bill :

35daughter-in-law, Lynnette;

now,aw,now, 36 therefore, be it / 37 RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of William Reese / 38 Hess;

and, be ititt 39the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of William Reese RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of William Reese Hess as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's respect for his memory.