HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 38

(By Delegates Manuel, Wills, Marshall, Perdue,

Doyle, Brown, Hatfield, Amores, Caputo, Craig, DeLong, Douglas, Ennis, Faircloth, Fleischauer, Givens, Mahan, Martin, Mezzatesta, Pethtel, J. Smith, Spencer, Staton, Swartzmiller, Trump, Varner and Webster)


[Introduced March 8, 2002; referred to the

Committee on Rules.]

Honoring and recognizing Sylvia Rideoutt Bishop, a pioneering African-American woman, who became the first licensed African-American woman thoroughbred trainer in the United States.

Whereas, Sylvia Rideoutt Bishop, an eighty-one year old native daughter from Jefferson County, was born with a passion for horses which has permeated her entire existence and which continues to this day; and
Whereas, Sylvia Rideoutt Bishop's passion for horses led her to become a horse trainer at the young age of fourteen years and to continue working as a horse trainer until two years ago, when the onset of arthritis in her leg forced her to give up her beloved work; and
Whereas, Sylvia Rideoutt Bishop devoted herself to her life-work as a horse trainer and excelled in that profession, in spite of the spectre of racial prejudice which ran rampant in this country during her days as a child, young adult and middle aged adult, and she endured the intolerance and bigotry she encountered daily at the horse track and elsewhere with grace and dignity by keeping her good humor and turning a deaf ear; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That honor and recognition is hereby expressed by the members of the House of Delegates to the life achievements of Sylvia Rideoutt Bishop as a licensed thoroughbred trainer and to the important historical significance of her remarkably persistent and resilient persona as the first African-American woman to work in this field; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Sylvia Rideoutt Bishop.