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Your daily Letter to the Columnist — Feb. 26, 2012

Dan,

Your article on Chip Woodrum was excellent. I also knew all of the people you spoke of, being the director of public affairs at that time for Norfolk Southern. In fact Chip was the first legislator I met to start that portion of my career, which I wouldn’t trade for anything, as I learned and became friends with Chip, Dickie Cranwell, Vic Thomas, Granger McFarlane, Virgil Goode, and yes even the Republican Steve Agee. All were and are fine people, with this Commonwealth foremost in their minds.

I miss Chip and we would probably fill another page with the anecdotes and other stories of the goings on in Richmond during those days, 1984-88. Such as the one that comes to mind with the Carolina blue carpet installed in the House of Delegates. (Both Chip and I had a connection to NC — I was born there). Chip nor I let A. L . Philpot, then House Speaker,  forget the Carolina blue carpet. May still be there?

Anyway, thank you and it was good to see Bill Crump’s name again, ( Redi-Kilo watt), Virginia Dominion Power, was always in trouble with the General Assembly. Lordy! It could have been APCO from here.

There are so many stories and at that time this whole Roanoke delegation was, for lack of a better word, “something else.” I know, I spent many hours and days with all of them., worrying about things such as the coal slurry fight, caboose off, and Conrail fights plus many more. We were into everything in Richmond

Oh, the statement about Chip and the white Mustang is also true, in many more respects, too.

Again, good job Dan; Chip would have appreciated this and I just hope his 12-handicap holds up to the next great golf course he plays, and he will!

By the way, Emily, was his strength and his best supporter. We all loved her.

Sincerely.

Joe Sailor
VINTON