Robert O. Norris, Jr.

Robert Opie Norris Jr. (November 4, 1880 – June 21, 1960) was an American Democratic politician who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate. He was the Senate's President pro tempore from 1945 to 1950.

Early life Robert O. Norris Jr. was born in Lively, Virginia. He studied at Randolph-Macon Academy and the University of Richmond.

Career Following graduation, Norris practiced law in Lively and was a member of the law firm Norris, Richardson, Clarke and Foster. He served as the President pro tempore from 1945 to 1950. He served on various committees, including the senate steering, privileges and elections, courts of justice, fish and game, and interstate commerce committees. He became chairman of the senate finance committee in 1950. For three months in 1944, he left the senate to serve as a member of the state corporation commission. He was afterward re-elected. He retired on January 1, 1955. In 1952, he opposed the redistricting of his senatorial district. Following his arguments, Stafford County and Prince William County were added to his district. In the fall of 1952, he withdrew as a presidential elector to support Republican presidential nominee Dwight Eisenhower.

Personal life Norris married Lelia Fauntleroy Claybrook, daughter of Baptist minister F. W. Claybrook, in February 1922. They had a daughter and son, Mrs. Dixon Foster and Robert O. III. In 1950, he became president of the Northern Neck Historical Society and had a large collection of Northern Neck and Virginia history.

Towards the end of his career, Norris was a patient at the Medical College of Virginia Hospital a number of times. He died on June 21, 1960, at a hospital in Richmond. He was buried at White Chapel Episcopal Church Cemetery near Lively.

Legacy In 1957, the Robert O. Norris Bridge that spans the Rappahannock River between Lancaster and Middlesex counties was named in his honor.