WHEREAS, Bobby F. Griffin, a veteran, entrepreneur, and highly admired community leader, was born on June 16, 1932, in Bristol, Virginia to Charles A. and Lona Mae (Godsey) Griffin; and

WHEREAS, a lifelong resident of Bristol, Bobby Griffin attended local public schools and enlisted in the United States Army before graduating high school; he deployed to Korea, where he was wounded in action, then returned to the Commonwealth to become a well-known civic and business leader; and

WHEREAS, Bobby Griffin was a respected business owner and operator and was a successful real estate developer; and

WHEREAS, Bobby Griffin was best known for developing and patenting disposable automobile floor mats, which have been used by dealerships nationwide for decades; and

WHEREAS, Bobby Griffin was a philanthropist who helped establish Second Harvest Food Bank, served on the advisory board of the YWCA Bristol, and was treasurer of Haven of Rest Rescue Mission; he proudly served as a member and leader of the Rotary Club of Bristol for five decades where he earned many accolades, including recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow from Rotary International; and

WHEREAS, Bobby Griffin was a champion for higher education and served on the Board of Visitors of Emory and Henry College and the University of the Cumberlands, the board of Virginia Highlands Community College Foundation and Tennessee Temple University, and the Round Table of King University and as a trustee of Gardner-Webb University; and

WHEREAS, Bobby Griffin enjoyed fellowship and worship with the community for many years at Abingdon United Methodist Church and attended Celebration Church later in life; he was a co-founder of the Bristol Community Prayer Breakfast in 1999 and served as a co-chair until 2022; and

WHEREAS, Bobby Griffin was well-known in the community for his boundless generosity, unfailing commitment to servant leadership, and his bright and bold fashion sense; and

WHEREAS, may the citizens of the Commonwealth honor Bobby Griffin for his contribution to strengthening the Spirit of Virginia while also remembering his numerous family and friends who mourn the loss of a pillar of the Bristol community;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize March 2, 2023, as BOBBY F. GRIFFIN DAY in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of our citizens.