Richard D. Obenshain
Encyclopedia
Richard Dudley Obenshain (October 31, 1935 – August 2, 1978) was an attorney
in southwest Virginia
and rising conservative
political leader in the Republican Party of Virginia
until his death in the crash of a small airplane
.
at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia
, where he grew up. The elder Obenshain was active in Virginia's Republican Party during the era of the Byrd Organization
, the Democratic machine of Harry F. Byrd
which dominated Virginia's government from his election as Governor in 1925 until the 1966 Democratic Primary when two powerful Byrd incumbents lost and Harry F. Byrd, Jr.
, barely won his father's seat.
Richard graduated from Bridgewater College
in Rockingham County, Virginia
and was admitted to the Virginia Bar. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1964, was the unsuccessful Republican candidate for Attorney General in 1969 and became Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia in 1972.
He is credited with leading a period of growth for his party in Virginia. A record number of Republicans
were elected to seats in the Virginia General Assembly
under his leadership, the first such major gains since Reconstruction in the late 19th century following the American Civil War
.
In the summer of 1978, Obenshain won his party's nomination to run for the U.S. Senate to replace retiring U.S. Senator William L. Scott
. On the night of August 2, the small twin-engine Piper PA34 airplane carrying him home from a campaign appearance crashed in trees while attempting a night-time landing at the Chesterfield County Airport
, a general aviation
facility near Richmond
. Killed along with the 42-year-old candidate were a pilot
and a flight instructor
.
Former U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Warner
was selected to replace Richard Obenshain as the party's nominee for the U.S. Senate race. Warner, at the time the millionaire husband of actress Elizabeth Taylor
, was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 1978. After the retirement of Senator Harry F. Byrd Jr., Warner became Virginia's senior Senator, and retired in 2009.
of Winchester
, became the first woman to head the Republican Party of Virginia. Ironically, her opponent was state Republican party treasurer Richard Neel, Jr., an Alexandria
lawyer whose father was the pilot who died in the same crash as Richard Obenshain. Then, in November, Obenshain's son, Mark Obenshain
, an attorney based in Harrisonburg
, was elected to the Virginia State Senate from the 26th district.
and bold tax cuts, and his tireless crusade to curb Democratic dominance in the state."
In Richmond, the state headquarters of the Republican Party of Virginia is named "The Richard D. Obenshain Center" in his honor.
According to Virginia State Senator Mark Obenshain (R-26), the above statement is slightly misquoted and should read as the following:
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in southwest Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and rising conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
political leader in the Republican Party of Virginia
Republican Party of Virginia
The Republican Party of Virginia is the Virginia chapter of the Republican Party. It is based in the Richard D. Obenshain Center in Richmond in the Commonwealth of Virginia.- Organization and candidate selection :The State Party Plan...
until his death in the crash of a small airplane
Fixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
.
Biography
Richard D. Obenshain was the son of Josephine (Dudley) and Samuel S. Obenshain (1904-2000), a professorProfessor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg is an incorporated town located in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 42,620 at the 2010 census. Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford are the three principal jurisdictions of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
, where he grew up. The elder Obenshain was active in Virginia's Republican Party during the era of the Byrd Organization
Byrd Organization
The Byrd Organization was a political machine led by former Governor and U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd, Sr. that dominated Virginia politics for much of the middle portion of the 20th century...
, the Democratic machine of Harry F. Byrd
Harry F. Byrd
Harry Flood Byrd, Sr. of Berryville in Clarke County, Virginia, was an American newspaper publisher, farmer and politician. He was a descendant of one of the First Families of Virginia...
which dominated Virginia's government from his election as Governor in 1925 until the 1966 Democratic Primary when two powerful Byrd incumbents lost and Harry F. Byrd, Jr.
Harry F. Byrd, Jr.
Harry Flood Byrd, Jr. is a retired American politician. He represented Virginia in the United States Senate from 1965 to 1983. He is most notable for leaving the Democratic Party in 1970 and becoming an Independent, although he continued to caucus with the Democrats. He is the son of Harry F....
, barely won his father's seat.
Richard graduated from Bridgewater College
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater College, is a private, coeducational, four-year liberal-arts college located in Bridgewater, Virginia, a town in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States...
in Rockingham County, Virginia
Rockingham County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 67,725 people, 25,355 households, and 18,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 27,328 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
and was admitted to the Virginia Bar. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1964, was the unsuccessful Republican candidate for Attorney General in 1969 and became Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia in 1972.
He is credited with leading a period of growth for his party in Virginia. A record number of Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
were elected to seats in the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
under his leadership, the first such major gains since Reconstruction in the late 19th century following the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
In the summer of 1978, Obenshain won his party's nomination to run for the U.S. Senate to replace retiring U.S. Senator William L. Scott
William L. Scott
William Lloyd Scott was a Republican politician from Virginia.Scott was born in Williamsburg, Virginia. He received a law degree from George Washington University, and was employed by the federal government 1934–1961, principally as trial attorney with Department of Justice...
. On the night of August 2, the small twin-engine Piper PA34 airplane carrying him home from a campaign appearance crashed in trees while attempting a night-time landing at the Chesterfield County Airport
Chesterfield County, Virginia
Chesterfield County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. In 2010, its population was estimated to be 316,236. Chesterfield County is now the fourth-largest municipality in Virginia . Its county seat is Chesterfield...
, a general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
facility near Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. Killed along with the 42-year-old candidate were a pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
and a flight instructor
Flight instructor
A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit...
.
Former U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Warner
John Warner
John William Warner, KBE is an American Republican politician who served as Secretary of the Navy from 1972 to 1974 and as a five-term United States Senator from Virginia from January 2, 1979, to January 3, 2009...
was selected to replace Richard Obenshain as the party's nominee for the U.S. Senate race. Warner, at the time the millionaire husband of actress Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE was a British-American actress. From her early years as a child star with MGM, she became one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age...
, was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 1978. After the retirement of Senator Harry F. Byrd Jr., Warner became Virginia's senior Senator, and retired in 2009.
Children
In 2003, two of Richard Obenshain's children enjoyed major successes in Virginia politics. First, his daughter, Kate Obenshain GriffinKate Obenshain Griffin
Kate Obenshain is a conservative political commentator and Vice President of Young America's Foundation. She regularly appears as a guest on the Fox News Channel.-Education/career:...
of Winchester
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
, became the first woman to head the Republican Party of Virginia. Ironically, her opponent was state Republican party treasurer Richard Neel, Jr., an Alexandria
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
lawyer whose father was the pilot who died in the same crash as Richard Obenshain. Then, in November, Obenshain's son, Mark Obenshain
Mark Obenshain
Mark D. Obenshain is a Republican member of the Senate of Virginia from Harrisonburg. Obenshain has accumulated a conservative voting record since his election to the Shenandoah Valley's 26th state senate district in 2003...
, an attorney based in Harrisonburg
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia in the United States. Its population as of 2010 is 48,914, and at the 2000 census, 40,468. Harrisonburg is the county seat of Rockingham County and the core city of the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical...
, was elected to the Virginia State Senate from the 26th district.
Legacy
According to an article in the Virginian-Pilot newspaper, Richard Obenshain's political legacy was "skill at birthing an alliance of Republicans and conservative Democrats, his prescient support of Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and bold tax cuts, and his tireless crusade to curb Democratic dominance in the state."
In Richmond, the state headquarters of the Republican Party of Virginia is named "The Richard D. Obenshain Center" in his honor.
-
- "The most important goal in my life is to have some significant impact in preserving personal freedom in the life of this country."
-
- Richard D. Obenshain
-
- "The most important goal in my life is to have some significant impact in preserving personal freedom in the life of this country."
According to Virginia State Senator Mark Obenshain (R-26), the above statement is slightly misquoted and should read as the following:
-
- "The most important goal in my life is to have some significant impact in preserving and expanding the realm of personal freedom in the life of this country.”
-
- Richard D. Obenshain
-
- "The most important goal in my life is to have some significant impact in preserving and expanding the realm of personal freedom in the life of this country.”