 | Board of Visitors minutes September 13, 1946 |  |
Extension of time or contract for Nurses Home addition:
The President informed the Board that the Nurses' Home addition was substantially completed as of
May 2, 1946, and he presented a copy of a letter from the Graham Brothers asking for an extension of
the date of completion from December 20, 1945, to May 2, 1946.
After a full discussion of the matter, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:
"WHEREAS, as a result of an inspection of the Nurses' Home Addition, Project Va: 44-356, on May 2,
1946, it was found that our contract and subsequent Change Orders thereto had been completed except for
minor corrections and adjustments, therefore
"BE IT RESOLVED that said Contract be accepted as of May 2, 1946, subject to minor corrections and
adjustments as heretofore noted, and further subject to such action as may be deemed necessary with
respect to liquidated damages for non-completion of the Contract within the specified time.
"RESOLVED, by the Board of Visitors of the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia that
approval is given to the request of Graham Brothers in a letter dated May 10, 1946, for an extension
of time of completion of the Nurses' Home Addition from December 20, 1945 to May 2, 1946, the date on
which this contract was inspected and accepted as substantially completed.
"RESOLVED further that approval of this extension of time be requested of the Federal Works
Agency." Adopted.
Mr. C. B. Garnett, who was requested at the last meeting of the Board to prepare a memorial to Robert
Gray Williams, presented the draft of the memorial which was read and adopted.
MEMORIAL TO ROBERT GRAY WILLIAMS
Robert Gray Williams of Winchester, Virginia, died in that city on the 24th day
of July, 1946. He was born at Leesburg, Virginia on July 10, 1878, but was brought
by his parents to Winchester when he was an infant and spent the remainder of his
life in that city. He was the son of Col. John J. Williams and Mrs. Emily (Gray)
Williams. His father, a distinguished Confederate veteran, practiced law in Winchester
after the close of the War between the States.
Robert Gray Williams received his early education at the old Shenandoah
Valley Academy in Winchester. From that school he went to the University of
Virginia, where he was a student from 1896 to 1900. On account of his
father's death he had to withdraw from the University just on the eve of his
graduation to take over his father's law practice.
He was a member of the Virginia State Bar Association, of which he served
as President in 1926-27, and was also a member of the American Bar Association.
His success and eminence at the Bar were attested by the fact that he became
counsel for the Northern Virginia Power Company; Virginia Voolen Company;
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and was
also president of the George Washington Hotel Corporation. He was a member
of the Board of Handley Fund Trustees and was president of that board from 1915
to 1940, when he resigned his office due to press of private business. At the
time of his death he was president of the Shenandoah National Bank, an office
which was held by his grandfather, Philip Williams, who was the first President
thereof. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Chesapeake and
Potomac Telephone Company of Virginia and was president of the Rockingham
Publishing Company, publishers of the Daily News Record of Harrisonburg. He
was a member of the Virginia State Library Board.
His devotion to the University of Virginia began early in his life and
continued until the end. In addition to being a member of the Alumni Board
of Trustees of the University of Virginia Endowment Fund of the University
of Virginia, he served as a member of the Board of Visitors from March 1,
1932, until his death, and on November 4, 1939 succeeded the late Fred W.
Scott as Rector, the office which he held at the time of his death. As a
member of the executive committee and of the finance committee of the Board, he
gave unstintedly and generously of his time and talents to the affairs of the
University.
Like Ulysses of old, he could say "I am a part of all I have met", and it
may be added that in whatever activities he was engaged, whether for the State,
the City, the University or the corporations which he served so well, he contributed
a part of his life and gave dignity to their functions.
His ability as a lawyer is attested by the fact that he refused an appointment,
which was offered to him by Governor Byrd, to be a member of the Supreme
Court of Appeals of Virginia and he was appointed a member of the commission
to recommend revisions of the Constitution, in which capacity he rendered great
service to the chairman of the commission, the late Judge Robert R. Prentis.
The various fraternal organizations and clubs to which he belonged gave
evidence of his great influence with, and interest in, other people. At the
University he was a member of the Colonnade Club, the Raven Society, Phi Beta
Kappa, and Delta Psi fraternities. He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church
of Winchester, of the Commonwealth Club at Richmond and of the National Press
Club at Washington.
He was married first to Elizabeth King on December 1, 1900. After her
death he was married to Hilda B. Dean on Deptember 4, 1940, by whom he is
survived. By his first wife he had two children and by her he left five
grandchildren.
In all of his relations, he exhibited the qualities of loyalty, amiability
and high purpose, and these qualities endeared him to his friends and made
it impossible for him to have any open enemies.
For him, the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over, and his
work is done. Requiescat in pace.
| Board of Visitors minutes September 13, 1946 | |