SR 89 — Celebrating the life of the Honorable Thomas J. Bliley, Jr.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24105657D I SENATE RESOLUTION NO.

89 E N Offered February 26, 2024 Celebrating the life of the Honorable Tho––––––––––ley,Thomas Jr.J.

TBliley, Patrons––Sturtevant,Jr. Deeds, McDougle and Obenshain R –––––––––– WHEREAS, the Honorable Thomas J.

Bliley,Agreed Jr.,to aby well-knownthe businessSenate, ownerFebruary in29, Richmond2024 andR a O dedicatedWHEREAS, public servant who was elected as mayor of Richmond and served the CommonwealthHonorable andThomas tDeJ. nation as a member of the U.S.

Bliley, Jr., a well-known business owner in Richmond and a L nation as a member of the U.S.

andth and the WHEREAS, Thomas "Tom" Bliley grew up in Chesterfield, where he attended Catholic schools;

heUhe servedL hisgraduated countryfrom what is now known as aBenedictine memberCollege ofPreparatory theand UnitedGeorgetown StatesUniversity, Navy,E thenBliley joinedCompany, theknown familytoday business,as JosephBliley W.Funeral Homes;

Blileyand, Company,then knownjoined todaythe asfamily Blileybusiness, FuneralJoseph Homes;W.

andD E WHEREAS, Tom Bliley helped Bliley Funeral Homes maintain its reputation for excellence, treating families in need with the utmost professionalism, dignity, and respect, and he rose through the ranks to become the third generation of his family to serve as president of the company;

and WHEREAS, desirous to be of further service to the community, Tom Bliley ran for and was elected to the Richmond City Council;

he served city residents in that capacity for many years, including terms as WHEREAS,mayor Tomfrom Bliley1970 nextto served1977; 10 terms in the U.S.

Houseand ofWHEREAS, RepresentativesTom fromBliley 1981next toserved 2001;10 terms in the U.S.

heHouse wasof wellRepresentatives knownfrom on1981 Capitol Hill for his signature bow tie and for his commitment to buildingS bipartisan2001; consensus and respect;

he was well known on Capitol Hill for his signature bow tie and WHEREAS,for his commitment to building 8 bipWHEREAS, Tom Bliley introduced and supported many important pieces of legislation to benefitSbenefit E Virginians and all Americans;

early in his tenure, he served as a key conferee for updates to t8ethe CleanCleanR Air Act and sought funding for the construction of Richmond's flood wall;

and 9 WHEREAS, in 1994, Tom Bliley became chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997;

and WHEREAS, Tom Bliley also offered his leadership to many civic and service organizations, includingincWHEREAS, thepredeceased Rotaryby Clubhis ofson, Richmond,Thomas theJ. Knights of Columbus, and the Knights of Malta;

and WHEREAS, predeceased by his son, Thomas J.

his daughter, Mary Vaughn :Bliley Utter;

35his Patrickgrandchildren, Bliley,Jennifer andVick, JosephMary UtterKathryn III;Davies, Thomas J.

Bliley IV, Shawn therefore, be itand Joseph Utter III;

now, 36 therefore, be it / 37 RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of the Honorable / 38 Thomas J.

Bliley, Jr., a respected business leader, a distinguished public servant, and a true Virginia 39 gentleman;

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Honorable Thomas J.