Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 25, 1990 TAG: 9007250337
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PETER MATHEWS and ROB EURE STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Stafford, 51, died of cancer early Tuesday. He had represented the 5th House District in the General Assembly for nearly two decades.
"He was one of the most outstanding citizens Giles County has ever had," said Charles B. Andrews Sr., a former law partner.
"It's a terrible loss to me personally, as well as to our district and the state of Virginia," said Harold Chafin, a Pearisburg banker who was a close friend.
Stafford's friends in Giles described lively discussions over lunch at his favorite hangout, the Virginian Restaurant in Pearisburg. Colin Gibb, a Democratic lawyer, said the talk at the bipartisan gatherings frequently turned to politics.
"He had a great sense of humor," said Gibb, who added that much of a lunch hour could be spent teasing members of the opposing party.
"One time, I got him so mad he walked away from the table," Gibb recalled. But their political differences didn't get in the way of their friendship. In 1984, when Stafford ran for Congress against Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, Gibb was chairman of the county's Democratic Party.
"That was tough," Gibb said. "That can put a strain on one's friendship, but we were able to remain good friends."
"He was one of a kind," said Donald Huffman, the state GOP chairman. "He had about the best sense of humor of anybody I know in politics. But behind that humor was a great intellect."
Stafford's House of Delegates colleagues, several of whom came to visit him in recent weeks, said he clung to his principles even when he was in the minority.
"He was a true conservative," said Del. Lacey Putney, I-Bedford, one of Stafford's desk mates. "He made no apologies; he believed in minimal government and minimal interference in our daily lives."
"He held a very steadfast philosophy of government and he didn't waver from it," said Del. Arthur R. "Pete" Giesen Jr., R-Waynesboro, another Stafford desk mate.
"Yet, he had the knack of being well-liked even by those who disagreed with everything he thought. He could differ agreeably."
Giesen said Stafford had no fear of being the only delegate to vote against a measure.
"He didn't mind being the only red light on the board. On the other hand, there were some issues he would vote for that would make people ask how a conservative could support that. He did it because he thought it was in the best interests of the state."
Putney and Giesen will deliver eulogies at Stafford's funeral Thursday morning.
by CNB