ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 8, 1995 TAG: 9512080090
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: NEWS OBIT
Julian H. Rutherfoord Jr., a Democrat who represented Roanoke for 14 years in the House of Delegates, died at his home Wednesday. He was 82.
Rutherfoord had long been prominent in Roanoke Valley political and civic affairs and was a lifelong member of St. John's Episcopal Church, where he taught Sunday school and served on the vestry.
He served both as chairman of the board and president of Rutherfoord Insurance Agency and worked for the company from 1933 until 1970, when it merged with Davis & Stephenson. He then was made executive vice president of that company. He also was past president of Surplus Lines Inc.
The native Roanoker served in the House from 1948-62 and was defeated by Republican M. Caldwell Butler, who later became a 6th District congressman.
During his tenure as a delegate, Rutherfoord was a member of several committees, including the Insurance and Banking, and General Laws panels and was chairman of the Veteran Affairs Committee.
But it was as a member of the ``Young Turks'' that he became best known. The ``Young Turks'' were younger legislators who, while aligned with the political organization headed by the late U.S. Sen. Harry Byrd Sr., forced the General Assembly's conservative, Byrd-oriented leadership to provide more money for schools, mental health facilities and other state services.
Rutherfoord was past president of the Roanoke Association of Independent Insurance Agents and was involved in many civic organizations, having served as president of the Roanoke Guidance Center, chairman of the World Trade Conference and president of the Roanoke Kiwanis Club.
He was highly active in the insurance field and served as president of the Virginia Association of Insurance Agents in the 1960s.
Rutherfoord also served in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Moore Rutherfoord, and two daughters.
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