Virginia HJ 3: Celebrating the life of the Honorable Thomas Frank Betz, Jr.

Bill Text

2024SESSION
INTRODUCED
24100029D
1 HOUSEJOINTRESOLUTIONNO.3
2 OfferedJanuary10,2024
3 PrefiledDecember4,2023
4 Celebrating the life of the Honorable Thomas Frank Betz, Jr.
5 ––––––––––
Patron––Knight
6 ––––––––––
7 WHEREAS, the Honorable Thomas Frank Betz, Jr., a distinguished attorney and a former judge of
8 the 2nd Judicial District of Virginia, died on February 22, 2023; and
9 WHEREAS, Thomas "Tom" Frank Betz graduated from Granby High School, where he was a
10 talented multisport athlete and a member of the undefeated state champion football team in 1953; and
11 WHEREAS, Tom Betz received a scholarship to attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
12 University and played football for the Hokies from 1955 to 1959; he studied electrical engineering
13 before changing his major and graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration; and
14 WHEREAS, Tom Betz earned a law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law on a
15 two-year accelerated program, then served his country as a member of the United States Air Force in
16 the Judge Advocate General's Corps; and
17 WHEREAS, Tom Betz's legal career spanned more than five decades; he served as an associate at
18 Pilcher, Pilcher, Underwood and Byrd, then became an assistant Commonwealth's attorney in the
19 Virginia Beach office; and
20 WHEREAS, in 1968, Tom Betz was appointed as a judge of the Virginia Beach Juvenile and
21 Domestic Relations District Court; he presided over the court with great fairness and wisdom until 1972,
22 then continued to serve as a substitute judge of the Virginia Beach General District Court until 1984;
23 and
24 WHEREAS, Tom Betz subsequently worked for the firm Guy, Cromwell, Betz, and Lustig, then
25 joined Mays and Valentine and served as managing partner of the firm's Norfolk office; and
26 WHEREAS, after Mays and Valentine merged with Troutman Sanders in 2001, Tom Betz served as
27 managing partner of two local offices of Troutman Sanders until his retirement; and
28 WHEREAS, Tom Betz offered his leadership and expertise to many other local organizations,
29 including as chair of the Tidewater Regional Group Home Board, Tidewater Regional Group Home
30 Commission, and Tidewater Detention Home Board; he also served as a member of the Virginia Beach
31 Planning Commission and the board of directors of the Virginia Beach Forum; and
32 WHEREAS, among many awards and accolades, Tom Betz received the Distinguished Service
33 Award from the Virginia Beach Bar Association in 2002 and was selected as a Fellow of the Virginia
34 Law Foundation in 2007; and
35 WHEREAS, outside of his career, Tom Betz enjoyed skeet shooting at the NAS Oceana Skeet Range
36 with his friends Herb Culpepper, Clyde Barnett, and Bob Steinhilber, and he enjoyed numerous hunting
37 trips to Canada with his son ToddBetzand friend Barry Knight; and
38 WHEREAS, Tom Betz will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Carolyn; his
39 children, Kimberly and Todd, and their families; his stepson, Jeffrey, and his family; and numerous
40 other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
41 RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby
42 note with great sadness the loss of the Honorable Thomas Frank Betz, Jr.; and, be it
43 RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution
44 for presentation to the family of the Honorable Thomas Frank Betz, Jr., as an expression of the General
45 Assembly's respect for his memory.
INTRODUCED
HJ3
2/6/24
10:21