NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1973 SESSION

RESOLUTION 34

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 473

A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF FRED S. ROYSTER, FORMER MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Whereas, Fred S. Royster, of Henderson, North Carolina, a former distinguished Representative and Senator from Vance County in the General Assembly, died in Duke University Medical Hospital at the age of sixty-three years on the 3rd day of June, 1972; and

Whereas, in the passing of Fred S. Royster, North Carolina and Vance County lost one of its most beloved and respected citizens; and

Whereas, Fred S. Royster served with honor and distinction as a Representative from Vance County in the House in 1945, 1947, 1949 and 1951, and in the Senate representing the Third District in 1953 and 1965, serving as Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee in 1965; and

Whereas, Fred S. Royster gave of his time and unusual talents as he served faithfully, diligently and effectively in so many organizations and public posts of honor and trust in Vance County, the State and the Nation, among them being founder, President and Managing Director of the Bright Belt Warehouse Association, outstanding contributions to the formation and success of the Tobacco Tax Council, Tobacco Associates, Inc., Tobacco Grower's Information Committee, Inc., The Council for Tobacco Research-U.S.A., North Carolina Tobacco Advisory Council, and Flue-Cured Tobacco Cooperative Stablization Corporation, Chairman of the Board of Stewards, member of the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Committee on Finance, member of the Committee on Pastor-Parish Relations, and teacher of the Men's Bible Class at his beloved Methodist Church in Henderson, several terms on the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Democratic Party, first Chairman of the State Personnel Council, President of the Henderson Lions Club, member of the Henderson Rotary Club, President of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, and President of the Henderson Tobacco Board of Trade; and

Whereas, Fred S. Royster. who was born and raised on a tobacco farm in Vance County, gave generously of his time, vision, and judgment as a leading citizen of the Tobacco Community of the entire United States, and was rightly known as "Mr. Tobacco" because of these countless contributions to the tobacco industry; and

Whereas, Fred S. Royster is survived by his widow, Mrs. Launah Parker Royster; three sisters, Mrs. R. B. Armfield, Mt. Airy, North Carolina; Mrs. Ethel R. Brigham, Sarasota. Florida; Mrs. Lucy R. Brenner, Henderson, North Carolina; and two brothers, Mr. John S. Royster, Henderson, North Carolina; Mr. W. G. Royster, Henderson, North Carolina; and

Whereas, the General Assembly desires to honor the memory of Fred S. Royster and expresses its sympathy to the surviving members of his family;

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

Section 1.  That the General Assembly recognizes and expresses its appreciation for the public service rendered by Fred S. Royster, with full knowledge that for many years he rendered able and valuable services to his native county, the State of North Carolina, and the Nation, with a devotion to duty and outstanding character of the highest degree, and with kindness and courtesy to all who had the pleasure of knowing him in his personal, business, social, and political life.

Sec. 2.  That this resolution shall become a part of the public records of the 1973 General Assembly of North Carolina, and the Secretary of State shall cause a certified copy to be transmitted to Mrs. Launah Parker Royster, his widow; Mrs. R. B. Armfield, Mt. Airy, North Carolina; Mrs. Ethel R. Brigham, Sarasota, Florida; Mrs. Lucy R. Brenner, Henderson, North Carolina, his sisters; and Mr. John S. Royster, Henderson, North Carolina, and Mr. W. G. Royster, Henderson, North Carolina, his brothers.

Sec. 3.  This resolution shall become effective upon its ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 5th day of March, 1973.