University of Virginia Library

MEMORIAL RESOLUTION ON KENNETH P. ASBURY

WHEREAS, Kenneth P. Asbury was born in Wise County in 1922; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Asbury, after service in the United States Army during the Second World War, took both his undergraduate and Law degrees from Washington and Lee University; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Asbury returned to Wise County after graduation to begin the practice of the Law, a practice that he continued for fifty years becoming, in due course, President of the Virginia State Bar, and the Wise County Bar Association, Commonwealth's Attorney for Wise County for sixteen years; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Asbury gave a lifetime of service to Southwest Virginia and to Wise County, having been, at one time or another a member of virtually every board and organization in the county; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Asbury is perhaps best known as one of "The Three Wise Men," the delegation of three prominent Wise citizens who in 1954 persuaded President Darden to approve the establishment of Clinch Valley College, now The University of Virginia's College at Wise; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Asbury was named to the College's first advisory board and served until his death on March 12, 2007;

RESOLVED, The Board of Visitors notes with sorrow the passing of Kenneth P. Asbury, citizen of Wise, pays honor to his life of service, to his community, to Southwest Virginia and to the Commonwealth, and above all honors his role in the founding of The University of Virginia's College at Wise; and

RESOLVED FURTHER, the Board expresses its deepest sympathy to Mrs. Asbury and her family.