2026 SPECIAL SESSION I
ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 2041
Celebrating the life of Robert Gordon Barton, Jr.
Agreed to by the Senate, June 22, 2026
WHEREAS, Robert Gordon Barton, Jr., a passionate coach and educator in Nelson County and a supportive husband, father, grandfather, and friend, died on May 31, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Robert Barton, affectionately known by family and friends as “Skip” or “Bip,” grew up in New Jersey and was a star basketball player in high school; he continued his education at Colgate University, then transferred to Bloomfield College, where he was recognized as an all-conference defensive player in basketball; and
WHEREAS, after one year, Robert Barton returned to Colgate University and cultivated a lifelong love of reading, learning, and debate, all of which influenced his decision to pursue a career in education; and
WHEREAS, in 1979, Robert Barton settled in Nelson County with his young family and became deeply involved in community life for the next 47 years; and
WHEREAS, at Nelson County High School, Robert Barton taught history, humanities, economics, and an African American studies course for which he was particularly renowned; the course began with the civil rights movement and worked backwards toward slavery, challenging generations of students to not only engage critically with the nation's history, but find ways to learn from one another and forge relationships built on mutual respect; and
WHEREAS, Robert Barton also coached Nelson County High School's basketball and baseball teams; he led the 1982 baseball team, which finished as runner-up in the state championship, and was subsequently inducted into the Nelson County High School Athletics Hall of Fame; and