SW Va. officials remember Quillen

GATE CITY — A longtime figure in Southwest Virginia political and judicial life died Sunday. Ford C. Quillen, who represented far Southwest Virginia for more than two decades in the Virginia House of Delegates before serving as a Circuit Court judge, was remembered by legislators and officials for his commitment to the region. Elected to the House of Delegates in 1969, Quillen represented at various times Scott, Washington, Lee, Wise and Dickenson counties and the cities of Bristol and Norton until 1993. He was appointed to the 30th Judicial Circuit in 1995 for an eight year judgeship. Former Virginia state Sen. William Wampler Jr. said Monday that Quillen was recognized as the leading figure in the region's legislative delegation. "When I came to the Senate in 1987, Ford took me under his wing and taught me a lot," said Wampler. "Biblically, figuratively and literally he was the dean of the delegation. He was very kind and patient and he did a lot for the region." Wampler recalled his last meeting with Quillen a few years ago. "I was in town and we got together at the Campus Drive In," said Wampler. "Again, literally and figuratively, he held court there. Regardless of party, Ford worked across the aisle for the betterment of Southwest Virginia." "Ford Quillen was one of the most consequential public servants this House has ever known," state Delegate Terry Kilgore, R-45th Gate City, said during Monday's House session, "a proud son of Southwest Virginia who devoted his life to the people he represented and to the Commonwealth he loved. … He was the delegate before me, and I am mindful every day that I stand on the foundation he built for our region and for this institution." Kilgore credited Quillen with several legislative achievements — the legislation creating the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and measures strengthening Mountain Empire Community College and UVA Wise. "Those of us who serve from Southwest Virginia walk in the path he helped pave," said Kilgore. "His wisdom, his steady counsel, and his devotion to public service will long be remembered." The House of Delegates adjourned early Monday in recognition of Quillen. VCEDA Executive Director Jonathan Belcher said Quillen's legacy remains at the authority across two headquarters buildings and four decades. "He introduced the legislation in 1988 creating VCEDA, and the resolution we passed honoring him still hangs in our boardroom," said Belcher. "He was on our executive advisory board for several years after he left the General Assembly. His death is a big loss to the region and VCEDA and his contributions to Southwest Virginia will be long remembered." Quillen worked with the LENOWISCO Planning District Commission, former LENOWISCO Executive Director Ron Flanary recalled. "Ford would come down and talk with then-director Bruce Robinette and go back and forth on ideas," said Flanary, "and I was on staff at the time and would take notes." Some of the ideas from those sessions included the legislation for VCEDA , developing Highway 72 — known as the Veterans Memorial Highway — and extending liquor-by-the-drink to properties controlled by the Duffield Development Corporation in the 1980s. "Ford was a pragmatic guy and he had more ideas coming out of him than anyone," said Flanary. "Politics is about respect and relationships, and Ford was quite a guy. I really cared about Ford, and he never sought notoriety." A Gate City High School graduate, Quillen earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee before serving as a U.S. Army officer and returning to UT to complete law school before joining his father's law practice in Gate City. Quillen was preceded in death by his father, Cecil Dyer Quillen; mother, Mary Louise Carter Quillen; brother Cecil Dyer Quillen Jr.; his wife, Gail Quillen. He is survived by three daughters, six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren including Mac McClung; a niece and nephew and several cousins. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 24, at Gate City Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. with the burial following at Holston View Cemetery, Weber City.