Column: Woodrum a gentleman, mentor, lawmaker, friend and wit
Clifton A. “Chip” Woodrum | AP Photo
An extraordinary guy died Tuesday. His name was Clifton A. Woodrum III, but friend and foe alike knew him as “Chip.”
He was an honest and caring state lawmaker, a fount of wisdom who brilliantly represented the Roanoke Valley’s interests for 23 years in the Virginia General Assembly, a partisan Democrat, a talented lawyer and always a gentleman.
Wednesday, many were remembering him.
One was Jim Mullens, a business broker in Roanoke. Mullens recalled the winters of 1989 and 1990, when he was 14 and 15, and long hours he spent in Woodrum’s white Mustang, hurtling between Roanoke and Richmond on the weekends.
During those General Assembly sessions, Mullens was a Woodrum-appointed page in the Virginia General Assembly. That gig relieved Mullens of eight weeks of schooling at Patrick Henry High School. But he learned a lot that turned out very useful later in life, both inside the Capitol and in Woodrum’s front seat.
READ THE REST OF THIS COLUMN HERE.
READ MANY WITTICISMS CHIP WOODRUM WROTE RIGHT HERE ON THIS BLOG.
February 21, 2013 - 6:00 AM
Good column, Dan.
Many good things will be said about Chip but as simple as it sounds what I will remember most about him was that he was a really nice guy. He treated everyone with respect, he had friends from all walks of life and he genuinely valued the worth of everyone he met. If only more of us could learn the lessons of humility and kindness that Chip embodied. He will be sorely missed in this community.