2026 SESSION
ENROLLED
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 271
Celebrating the life of Wayne Oliver Pryor.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 10, 2026
Agreed to by the Senate, March 12, 2026
WHEREAS, Wayne Oliver Pryor, a talented musician, inspirational mentor, and highly admired member of the Chester community, died on February 24, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Wayne Pryor grew up in Richmond's West End and was a well-rounded student who excelled in history and music and participated in a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program in high school; and
WHEREAS, in his youth, Wayne Pryor developed a passion for watching the nearby trains and railyards, and the rhythmic “clickity clack” of rail traffic echoed with him over the years as he honed his skills as a drummer; and
WHEREAS, Wayne Pryor pursued a career as a studio musician and was a member of several bands, including The Marvin Taylor Experience, the Lance Manley Band, and various iterations of PumpHouse Blues, with which he was featured on several albums; over the years, he appeared in community programming on local television stations and was a regular at FloydFest and other street festivals; and
WHEREAS, Wayne Pryor was also a highly sought-after drum instructor who played an integral role in the advancement of two generations of drummers and other musicians throughout the region; and