[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 98 (Wednesday, July 10, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1036-E1037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE LIFE OF WESTON ``BITZIE'' CONLEY OF MORATTICO, VA

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT J. WITTMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 10, 2013

  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory 
of a proud citizen of Morattico, Virginia, a man whose friendship I 
have valued for many years. The late Weston ``Bitzie'' Conley was truly 
a pillar of his community, and his legacy will undoubtedly live on in 
Lancaster County and across Virginia's Northern Neck.
  During our time working together in both the seafood and the banking 
industries, Bitzie was a first-class Virginia gentleman, exhibiting the 
highest qualities of integrity, selflessness, and compassion for his 
neighbors. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Dorothy Lee, his 
daughter, Connie, and to his many loved ones in this time of mourning. 
I would like to submit an article from the Rappahannock Record about 
Bitzie's life and his many passions.

               [From Rappahannock Record, June 13, 2013]

  Weston `Bitzie' Conley, Seafood Industry and Community Leader, Dies

                         (By Audrey Thomasson)

       Morattico.--He was known as ``Bitzie'' to his friends and 
     family. But Weston Franklin Conley Jr. was a giant when it 
     came to serving the community he loved. On Friday, the 78-
     year-old businessman and local philanthropist quietly passed 
     away at his Morattico home with his wife of 56 years, Dorothy 
     Lee Clark, and daughter, Constance Elaine, by his side.
       Conley was a force of inspiration in this community and a 
     motivator for others, according to community leaders.
       ``He was a tremendous asset in how to conduct business and 
     was a great help to me on the YMCA board,'' said District 4 
     supervisor William Lee, who succeeded Conley as board 
     chairman. ``I gained so much from just listening to him.''
       Lee, who served on several community boards with Conley, 
     noted he was a man of integrity and generosity in both his 
     business and personal endeavors.
       ``He was not slanted or biased. He always gave his honest 
     opinion. Once he said to me, 'Bill, I wouldn't have what I 
     have now if it wasn't for the black community.' I think he 
     was referring to all the men and women who worked for his 
     seafood company picking crabs. Anybody that needed something 
     could go to him. He gave of his time and talents beyond his 
     resources,'' said Lee.


                                 Legacy

       Part of Conley's legacy is evident in the growth and 
     success of the Northern Neck YMCA.
       Mark Favazza, branch executive of the YMCA, said Conley's 
     fiscal wisdom, integrity, strategic thinking and coalition 
     building made him an important leader in the development of 
     the Kilmarnock facility, including heading the capital 
     campaign that led to the Wiley Child Development Center.
       ``He wanted a place where children could be safe, families 
     could find support, and everyone was welcome . . . He was the 
     kind of man who worked privately and led behind the scenes . 
     . . His humble service left an enduring impact on our YMCA, 
     the Wiley Center . . . and me,'' said Favazza.


                         Morattico's ``mayor''

       Conley's devotion to his heritage and home town exemplified 
     his all-in style when he purchased Morattico's General Store 
     in 2003 and donated it to the community as the Morattico 
     Waterfront Museum, which he helped establish. No doubt Conley 
     wanted to preserve fond memories of growing up and working in 
     the general store his parents owned and operated for 18 years 
     beginning in 1935, a year after his birth in Baltimore.
       Today, the museum also serves as a community center for the 
     families of Morattico. The first floor remains much like the 
     general store of his youth while the second floor pays homage 
     to the town's watermen.
       ``Everyone here called him Morattico's unofficial mayor,'' 
     said Liz Failmezger, a village resident and former member of 
     the museum board. ``This is the saddest loss. He was one of 
     the first people to welcome those of us who moved here. He 
     was so genuine--and a true gentleman. He was our go-to guy 
     for everything.''


                           Mentor and friend

       ``The county has lost one of its most prominent and 
     charitable citizens,'' said District 1 supervisor and board 
     chairman Butch Jenkins, a longtime friend.
       Jenkins was only five years old when he met the ``hard-
     charging'' Conley, a man he always knew as Bitzie.
       ``He treated me as a little adult,'' said Jenkins. ``I do 
     not know when I became his friend, but he was my friend by 
     the time I was six years old.''
       Later, when Jenkins decided to run for supervisor, he 
     sought his older friend's counsel. ``And good advice his 
     proved to be,'' he said. ``Over my time on the board, I often 
     sought his feelings on pending issues . . ., although we 
     sometimes disagreed. ``When I persisted, he told me, `Butch, 
     you usually do all right,

[[Page E1037]]

     but sometimes, you can be a little hard-headed.' ''
       Jenkins described Conley as ``a gifted friend who cared 
     enough to tell me exactly what he thought and, as my friend, 
     forgave me anyway for doing what he believed to be wrong.
       ``My sense of loss, as strong as it is to me, must pale to 
     that experienced by his widow, Dorothy Lee, and daughter, 
     Connie . . . and all the members of the extended family he 
     broadened so freely and gladly. I can only hope . . . that 
     the mercy of our Savior will relieve us in time of the pain 
     of our loss and allow us only to revel in the joy of... 
     sharing in the life of this good, caring man,'' Jenkins said.


                                 Leader

       Conley attended Lively High School and Richmond 
     Professional Institute. After serving in the U.S. Army, he 
     returned to the region, working in Richmond and Norfolk 
     before moving back to Lancaster to begin a career in the 
     seafood industry. He became co-owner of RCV (Richardson, 
     Chase and Venable) Seafood Corporation, Smith Point Seafood 
     Inc. in Reedville and Rappahannock Seafood Company in 
     Kilmarnock, processing plants mostly for crabs shipped to 
     national chains like Giant Food and Campbell Soup.
       Conley proceeded to become a leading member of many 
     industry and professional organizations, including the 
     Virginia Marine Products Commission, Shellfish Institute of 
     North America and National Blue Crab Industry Association. He 
     was a long-standing member of many boards including 25 years 
     with Bank of Lancaster, Bay Banks of Virginia Inc., chairing 
     the loan committee for 20 years, Northern Neck Planning 
     Commission, Lancaster-Middlesex Community Reinvestment 
     Advisory and chairman of the Lancaster County Economic 
     Development Authority (formerly the Industrial Development 
     Authority).
       He had perfect attendance at the Lancaster Ruritan Club for 
     50 years and was a 25-year member of the Chesapeake District 
     Ruritan National Crab Feast Committee.
       As a dedicated, lifelong member of Emmanuel United 
     Methodist Church, he served the church in many leadership 
     roles, including on the board of trustees.
       Funeral services were held Tuesday. Memorial gifts may be 
     made to the Norwood Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 
     85, Morattico, VA 22523, Northern Neck Family YMCA, Morattico 
     Waterfront Museum or Hospice of Virginia.

                          ____________________