Virginia SR 46: Celebrating the life of Rocky S. Wood.

Bill Text

2024SESSION
ENROLLED
SENATERESOLUTIONNO.46
Celebrating the life of Rocky S. Wood.
AgreedtobytheSenate,February8,2024
WHEREAS, Rocky S. Wood, a seven-year Virginia Department of Forestry employee who worked in
the Western Region's Vansant Office, died on March 9, 2023, while fighting a 15-acre wildfire along
Lester's Fork Road near the Roseann community in Buchanan County; and
WHEREAS, Rocky Wood was scouting the area to determine where to create a containment line
around the perimeter of the fire when the all-terrain vehicle he was driving overturned and he perished
as a result of his injuries; and
WHEREAS, Rocky Wood served 30 years as a wildland firefighter and was a member of the
Virginia Department of Forestry honor guard, an instructor for wildland fire investigation and
suppression, and a leader and mentor of his peers; and
WHEREAS, Rocky Wood had an outsized impact on the Haysi community as a 1987 graduate of
Haysi High School, vice mayor of Haysi, chief of the Haysi Volunteer Fire Department, chairman of the
building code committee of Dickenson County, owner and operator of Wood Construction Company,
and member of the Grace Fellowship Baptist Church in Haysi; and
WHEREAS, Rocky Wood was born and raised in Wise County and was the son of Nina Wood and
the late Lacy Wood; in addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, John Gartin
and Alta Gartin Charles and Earl and Edna Ramey; and
WHEREAS, Rocky Wood will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his loving wife, Debbie;
his daughters, Lindsey and Lauren, and their families; his mother, Nina; and numerous other family
members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Rocky S. Wood,
a cherished member of the Haysi community whose success in his public service career brought great
pride to the Commonwealth; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for
presentation to the family of Rocky S. Wood as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's respect for his
memory.
ENROLLED
SR46ER