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Albert Lee "A.L." Philpott
Member From: 1958 - September 28, 1991
- Birth Date: July 29, 1919 Birth Place:Philpott, Henry County, VA
- Death Date: September 28, 1991
- Gender: Male Race: Caucasian
- Spouse: Katherine Apperson Spencer
- Children: Carole Apperson Philpott; Judy Rothwell Philpott; Albert Lee Philpott, Jr.
- Religion: Methodist
- Education: Bassett High School, University of Richmond (B.A., 1941)
University of Richmond School of Law (J.D., 1947) - Military Service: USAAF (World War II; USA Ordnance Department)
- Occupation/Profession: Attorney
- Memberships/Affiliations: Methodist Church Delta Theta Phi (legal fraternity) Omicron Delta Kappa (leadership fraternity) Lambda Chi Alpha (social fraternity) American Bar Association Virginia Bar Association Martinsville-Henry County Bar Association Virginia State Bar Benevolent Protective Order of Elks Loyal Order of Moose Knights of Pythias Bassett Memorial Library (board of directors) Blue Ridge Airport Authority Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. Bassett American Legion Post 11 (former commander)
- Awards: American Legion, Distinguished Service Award (1977) University of Richmond, Alumni Distinguished Service Award (1977) Virginia Cultural Laureate Award in field of statesmanship (1977) University of Richmond, Honorary Doctor of Laws (1978) Virginia Trial Lawyers, Distinguished Service Award (1979) Virginia Exchange Clubs, Distinguished Virginian Award (1980)
- Bio: Born in Philpott, Va., July 29, 1919 Died in Philpott, Va., September 28, 1991 Buried in Roselawn Burial Park, Martinsville, Va. A. L. Philpott of Henry County was the son of John Elkanah Philpott and Mary Gertrude (Prillaman) Philpott. He was educated at Bassett High School and received a B.A. degree from the University of Richmond and a J.D. degree from the University”s T. C. Williams School of Law. He served in the United States Army Ordnance Department, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. As an attorney, he believed strongly in the protection of individual rights and that the accused should be afforded his constitutional rights, under the premise that an individual was innocent until proven guilty. He was described as “a man of absolute integrity” and “a lawyer's lawyer” and was probably best known for his encyclopedic knowledge of the Code of Virginia and case law. Elected to the House of Delegates in 1957 after serving as the Commonwealth's Attorney for Henry County, he began “one of the most distinguished legislative careers in the history of the Commonwealth.” He was admired and respected, and even feared by his colleagues when giving a scowl to indicate his displeasure with a legislative measure. He chaired the Committee on Corporations, Insurance and Banking and was a senior member of the Committee for Courts of Justice. He became the House Majority Leader in 1978. In 1980 he was elected the Speaker, and although a tough-minded partisan, he “brooked no nonsense from either side of the political aisle.” He received the University of Richmond's Alumni Distinguished Service Award and the Virginia Cultural Laureate Award in the field of statesmanship. He was the patriarch of the Philpott family, a large family known for its solidarity and strong sense of belonging. He married Katherine Apperson Spencer of Lynchburg in August 1941. They had two daughters, Carole Apperson Philpott (who died in 1955) and Judy Rothwell Philpott, and a son, Albert Lee, Jr.
While he was Speaker of the House, the Clerk was JOSEPH H. HOLLEMAN, JR. - Other Notable Service and/or Elected Offices:
Commonwealth's Attorney for Henry County (1952-1957)
Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates: 1980- September 28, 1991
| Session | District | District Number | Party | Leadership | Committees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958-1959 | Counties of Henry and Patrick; City of Martinsville | Democrat | Courts of Justice Executive Expenditures Federal Relations Immigration Public Property |
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| 1959 | Counties of Henry and Patrick; City of Martinsville | Democrat | Courts of Justice Executive Expenditures Federal Relations Immigration Public Property |
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| 1960 | Counties of Henry and Patrick; City of Martinsville | Democrat | Courts of Justice Executive Expenditures Federal Relations Immigration Public Property |
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| 1962-1963 | Counties of Henry and Patrick; City of Martinsville | 38 | Democrat | Courts of Justice Executive Expenditures Federal Relations Insurance and Banking |
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| 1963 | Counties of Henry and Patrick; City of Martinsville | 38 | Democrat | Courts of Justice Executive Expenditures Federal Relations Insurance and Banking |
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| 1964-1965 | Counties of Henry and Patrick; City of Martinsville | 37 | Democrat | Courts of Justice Executive Expenditures Federal Relations Insurance and Banking |
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| 1965 | Counties of Henry and Patrick; City of Martinsville | 37 | Democrat | Courts of Justice
Executive Expenditures Federal Relations Insurance and Banking |
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| 1966 | Counties of Henry and Patrick; City of Martinsville | 37 | Democrat | Courts of Justice Federal Relations Game and Inland Fisheries Insurance and Banking |
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| 1968-1969 | Counties of Henry and Patrick; City of Martinsville | 37 | Democrat | Courts of Justice Federal Relations Game and Inland Fisheries Insurance and Banking |
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| 1969 | Counties of Henry and Patrick: City of Martinsville | 37 | Democrat | Courts of Justice Federal Relations Game and Inland Fisheries Insurance and Banking Privileges and Elections |
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| 1970-1971 | Counties of Henry and Patrick; City of Martinsville | 37 | Democrat | Corporations Insurance and Banking Courts of Justice Privileges and Elections |
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| 1972-1973 | Counties of Henry, Patrick, and Pittsylvania; City of Martinsville | 13 | Democrat | Corporations Insurance and Banking Courts of Justice Privileges and Elections |
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| 1974-1975 | Counties of Henry, Patrick, and Pittsylvania; City of Martinsville | 13 | Democrat | Corporations Insurance and Banking Courts of Justice Privileges and Elections |
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| 1976-1977 | Counties of Henry, Patrick and Pittsylvania; and City of Martinsville | 13 | Democrat | Corporations Insurance and Banking Courts of Justice Privileges and Elections |
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| 1978 | Counties of Henry, Patrick and Pittsylvania; City of Martinsville | 13 | Democrat | Majority Floor Leader | Corporations Insurance and Banking (Chair) Courts of Justice Privileges and Elections Rules |
| 1979 | Counties of Henry, Patrick and Pittsylvania; City of Martinsville | 13 | Democrat | Majority Floor Leader | Corporations Insurance and Banking (Chair) Courts of Justice Privileges and Elections Rules |
| 1980 | Counties of Henry, Patrick and Pittsylvania; City of Martinsville | 13 | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 1981 | Counties of Henry, Patrick and Pittsylvania; City of Martinsville | 13 | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 1982 | Counties of Floyd, Henry and Patrick ; City of Martinsville | 12 | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 1983 | County of Henry (part); City of Martinsville (part) | 11 | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 1984 | County of Henry (part); City of Martinsville (part) | 11 | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 1985 | County of Henry (part); City of Martinsville (part) | 11 | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 1986 | County of Henry (part); City of Martinsville (part) | 11 | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 1987 | County of Henry (part); City of Martinsville (part) | 11 | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 1988 | County of Henry (part); City of Martinsville (part) | 11 | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 1989 | County of Henry (part); City of Martinsville (part) | 11 | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 1990 | County of Henry (part); City of Martinsville (part) | 11 | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 1991 | County of Henry (part); City of Martinsville (part) | 11 | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
*The information within this interactive and searchable application has been researched extensively by the House Clerk’s Office. As with any historical records of this age and breadth, there may be discrepancies and/or inconsistencies within records obtained from a variety of credible sources. Any feedback is encouraged at history@house.virginia.gov.