December 12, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 199 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING BITTLE PORTERFIELD III

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. H. MORGAN GRIFFITH

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 12, 2019

  Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of Bittle Porterfield 
III, a Roanoke native, businessman, and champion of the area's 
education and arts, who died on November 29, 2019 at the age of 75. Mr. 
Porterfield was incredibly involved in the Roanoke community, and his 
goal was to make the Roanoke Valley and Virginia a better place to 
live.
  Bittle Porterfield III was born on March 9, 1944. He attended Roanoke 
College for his undergraduate degree. After graduating, Mr. Porterfield 
served in the United States Army for two years. He then earned a 
master's in business administration at Virginia Tech. Mr. Porterfield 
worked in the beverage industry for most of his career, leading two 
family-run businesses.
  In addition to business, Mr. Porterfield had a passion for education. 
He was the president of the Western Virginia Foundation for the Arts 
and Sciences, where he oversaw maintenance for three museums, three 
performing arts centers, and the region's arts council. Mr. Porterfield 
was also the President of the Taubman Museum of Art.
  Mr. Porterfield took any opportunity he saw to benefit the Roanoke 
Valley. This is evident in his service as Chairman for the Roanoke 
Valley Resource Authority, the Foundation for the Roanoke Valley, and 
the Roanoke Valley Business Council. Mr. Porterfield was also the 
President of the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce.
  The effort that Mr. Porterfield poured into education was noticed, 
and he was appointed to the State Council of Higher Education for 
Virginia. Additionally, he served on the Radford University Board of 
Visitors.
  Mr. Porterfield also used his passion for aviation at the Virginia 
Aviation Board, where he was a member. He also served as the Chairman 
of the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission.
  The Roanoke Valley and the Commonwealth of Virginia were fortunate to 
have such a strong proponent and leader of education and business in 
their community.
  Mr. Porterfield's survivors include Charlotte Kelley Porterfield; his 
sons Bittle Wilson Porterfield IV and wife, Holly, and Forrest Kelley 
Porterfield and wife, Katie; and grandchildren Bittle Wilson 
Porterfield V, Jackson Watkins Porterfield, Forrest Shepperson 
Porterfield, and William Hines Porterfield. I offer my condolences to 
the Porterfield family on their loss.

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