VCC Magazine Fall-Winter 20-21

V irginia C apitol C onnections , F all 2020/W inter 2021 21 Remembering Ray D. Pethtel By Bill Leighty Ray D. Pethtel was a giant among Virginians. He passed away on September 12, 2020 at the age of 83. Born in Gallipolis, Ohio, Ray enlisted in our nation’s service as a Seabee at the age of 17. He never stopped serving. A proud graduate of Penn State, he obtained aMaster of PublicAdministration. Hewas recruited toVirginia from a position he held with the NewYork State legislature to make the newly established Joint Legislative Review Commission (JLARC) a reality. Ray put his immense knowledge of public administration and leadership skills to work right away creating the nation’s preeminent legislative research and evaluation agency. With an ever-present smile, a twinkle in his eye and an infectious jovial laugh, Ray kept details of who in Virginia Government were naughty and nice. He established the standards for nonpartisan, analytical, detailed performance reviews that led Virginia to excellence and in no small measure contributed to Virginia being named the “Best Managed State” in the nation. Twice. Following his accomplishments at JLARC, Ray was tapped by then-Governor Gerald Baliles to lead a reform of Virginia’s Transportation network. Ray’s work creating a renewed Transportation Department with an emphasis on accountability, efficiency and “on time” performance. The Virginia General Assembly’s confidence in Ray contributed significantly to the passage of the then-largest infusion of transportation funding in Virginia’s history. Once passed, Ray implemented the Commission on Transportation in the Twenty-first Century (COT- 21) program, ultimately serving as VDOT’s Commissioner for eight years. Ray then led the creation of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute which became a nationally recognized leader in innovation and technology in transportation. While Ray’s accomplishments in development of organizations are his most visible legacy, his leadership development activities are his most significant legacy. He hired, trained, and mentored a huge component of Virginia’s professional public servants that continue to serve today, shaping Virginia government with the imbued passion for excellence. He influenced the careers of three gubernatorial Chiefs of Staff, Three Secretaries of Finance, countless deputy secretaries, countless agency heads and the current Clerk of the House. Well done, good and faithful servant. You left the world in a better place! Bill Leighty served as chief of staff to a number of Virginia governors, both Republican and Democrat. Remembering John Hager By Larry Roberts John Hager, who passed away on August 23 just shy of his 84th birthday, set an example for Virginians in his approach to politics, government, and civic life. As Director of the Sorensen Institute, I knew John as a true friend and a highly capable leader of our organization. He was one of Sorensen’s most steadfast supporters over many years, including multiple terms as Chair of our statewide Board. The respect he earned and showed to others was a source of strength for our Board and our organization. We were, of course, only one of the civic organizations at the heart of Virginia governing and politics where John played a major role. John showed that it was possible to compete with passion and vigor in the political arena, but to do so in a way that allowed for good governance in the wake of a hard-fought election. He treated allies and opponents with civility and respect. In government, he understood that he represented all of the people in the Commonwealth and not just those who voted for him. It seems fitting, in hindsight, that as Lt. Governor he presided over a Senate of Virginia that was split evenly, 20-20, and had a power sharing agreement in place. It also seems fitting that he served in the Administrations of Republican (Jim Gilmore) and Democratic (MarkWarner) Governors overseeing Virginia’s homeland security. He also served a Republican President and was the father-in-law of a First Daughter. Sorensen is pleased that we were able to honor John formally during his lifetime, as our 2017 Gala in Richmond was highlighted by a tribute to John from national and state leaders, family, and friends. For more about John’s life, he published a memoir “Best Seat in the House” that tells an inspiring story of how John overcame polio to achieve success in business, politics, and government. John was a true friend to many with whom he agreed and disagreed politically. Larry Roberts is Director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership. For more information about Sorensen, go to sorenseninstitute.org. Larry Roberts can be contacted at larry. roberts@virginia.edu. Hager pethtel In Memoriam • past editions online • subscribe • advertise WWW. VCCQM . ORG V V