Robert O. Norris Jr.

Robert O. Norris Jr.
Portrait of Norris, c. 1944
President pro tempore of the Senate of Virginia
In office January 10, 1945 – January 11, 1950
Preceded by	Henry T. Wickham
Succeeded by	Morton G. Goode
Member of the Virginia Senate
In office January 24, 1928 – January 11, 1956
Preceded by	Thomas J. Downing
Succeeded by	Thomas H. Blanton
Constituency	30th district (1928–1936) 31st district (1936–1956)
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates for Lancaster and Richmond
In office January 10, 1912 – January 24, 1928
Preceded by	R. Carter Wellford
Succeeded by	Raymond Sisson
Personal details
Born	Robert Opie Norris Jr. (1880-11-04)November 4, 1880 Lively, Virginia, U.S.
Died	June 21, 1960(1960-06-21) (aged 79) Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Resting place	White Chapel Episcopal Church Cemetery near Lively, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Lelia Fauntleroy Claybrook ​ ​ (m. 1922)​
Children	2
Education	Richmond College (LLB)
Occupation	Lawyer politician

Robert Opie Norris Jr. (November 4, 1880 – June 21, 1960) was an American Democratic politician who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate. He was the Senate's President pro tempore from 1945 to 1950.

Early life

Robert O. Norris Jr. was born in Lively, Virginia. He studied at Randolph-Macon Academy and the University of Richmond.[1][2]

Career

Following graduation, Norris practiced law in Lively and was a member of the law firm Norris, Richardson, Clarke and Foster.[2] In 1940, Norris was president of the Virginia State Bar Association.[1]

Norris was a Democrat. He served as a member in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1912 to 1928 and then as a member in the Virginia Senate.[1][3] He served as the President pro tempore from 1945 to 1950.[1][4] He served on various committees, including the senate steering, privileges and elections, courts of justice, fish and game, and interstate commerce committees. He became chairman of the senate finance committee in 1950. For three months in 1944, he left the senate to serve as a member of the state corporation commission. He was afterward re-elected. He retired on January 1, 1955.[1][2][3] In 1952, he opposed the redistricting of his senatorial district. Following his arguments, Stafford County and Prince William County were added to his district. In the fall of 1952, he withdrew as a presidential elector to support Republican presidential nominee Dwight Eisenhower.[1]

Personal life

Norris married Lelia Fauntleroy Claybrook, daughter of Baptist minister F. W. Claybrook, in February 1922. They had a daughter and son, Mrs. Dixon Foster and Robert O. III.[1][2] In 1950, he became president of the Northern Neck Historical Society and had a large collection of Northern Neck and Virginia history.[2]

Towards the end of his career, Norris was a patient at the Medical College of Virginia Hospital a number of times. He died on June 21, 1960, at a hospital in Richmond.[3] He was buried at White Chapel Episcopal Church Cemetery near Lively.[1]

Legacy

In 1957, the Robert O. Norris Bridge that spans the Rappahannock River between Lancaster and Middlesex counties was named in his honor.[2]

References

1. "Norris". The Danville Register. 1960-06-22. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-09-12 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Robert O. Norris Jr., Ex-State Senator, Dies". Richmond Times-Dispatch. 1960-06-22. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-09-12 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Death Claims R. O. Norris at Age of 79". The Danville Register. 1960-06-22. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-09-12 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Dodson, E. Griffith (1960). The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia, 1940-1960 - Register. Richmond: Virginia State Library.

External links

• Robert O. Norris Jr. at The Virginia Elections and State Elected Officials Database Project, 1776-2007
• Robert O. Norris Jr. at Find a Grave