DATE: Saturday, September 20, 1997          TAG: 9709200401

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: KAREN JOLLY DAVIS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: MELFA                             LENGTH:   51 lines

EASTERN SHORE SAYS: ``THANKS, BOB BLOXOM'' 2,000 TURN OUT TO HONOR HIM FOR 20 YEARS AS DELEGATE IN STATE LEGISLATURE.

Everybody got a red, white and blue ``Thank You, Bob'' sticker as they entered the party Friday evening.

That's what the massive picnic on the community college lawn was all about. Nearly 2,000 people came to honor Bob Bloxom for serving as the Eastern Shore's delegate to the General Assembly for 20 years.

``Unlike many politicians I know, he's a man of integrity,'' said Cynthia Bernart as she watched Bloxom shake another voter's hand.

Memorabilia of past campaigns floated through the crowd. Bill Bernart wore a T-shirt from Bloxom's first campaign, with ``Bob's Mob'' printed in red on the back. His classic T contrasted with those of Bloxom's two granddaughters, who had written, ``Thank You Pop Pop,'' in magic marker on the backs of their shirts.

``It's remarkable that it's been 20 years,'' said Bloxom before the party. ``It's gone by so fast.''

Bloxom, 60, is president of Bloxom Auto Supply Co. in Mappsville. He has served for the past two years as the ranking Republican on three committees in the House of Delegates: Agriculture, Chesapeake and its Tributaries, and Labor and Commerce. He also sits on the Appropriations Committee.

During his tenure - and due, in part, to his influence - the Eastern Shore Farmer's Market was built with $2.4 million in state funds. And Kiptopeke State Park opened its gates, the first state park to be purchased by Virginia in 20 years.

He introduced the bill that established the commercial spaceport at Wallops, and helped establish a dental-care program for poor elementary schoolchildren. He is known, said speaker Joyce Holland, for his staunch support of the state's community college system.

Butch Nottingham, president of the Virginia Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, also spoke at Friday's celebration.

``Bob, you, more than any man in the state of Virginia, are responsible for the renewed vigor in agricultural research,'' said Nottingham.

Bloxom sees himself as merely being in the right place at the right time to help other people's dreams come true.

``I am able to assist in helping things happen,'' Bloxom said when asked what he has been doing for 20 years. ``To have played a part in that type of process is rewarding.'' ILLUSTRATION: TAMARA VONINSKI/The Virginian-Pilot

Del. Bob Bloxom holds his two granddaughters, Blaire Bloxom, 5,

right, and Madison Bloxom, 3, while reaching to shake the hand of a

well-wisher Friday during a ``Thank You'' party in Melfa on the

Eastern Shore.

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