2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26107938D

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 164

Offered February 23, 2026

Commending Clarksville Furniture and Flooring.

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Patrons—Wright; Senator: Mulchi

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WHEREAS, in 2026, Clarksville Furniture and Flooring, located in historic downtown Clarksville, celebrates the 100th anniversary of its incorporation as a business; and

WHEREAS, Clarksville Furniture and Flooring traces its roots to the early 1920s, when Franz Julius Liipfert, a skilled artisan who had been making cabinets for Randolph-Macon College, relocated to Clarksville and began manufacturing furniture; and

WHEREAS, with help from Webster Yancey, Odelia Yancey, and Luther Morgan, Franz Liipfert's business flourished, and Clarksville Furniture Company was officially established in 1926; in the early days, the store built and sold its own furniture, but later transitioned to selling high-quality, American-made products from other manufacturers; and

WHEREAS, in 1943, Clarksville Furniture Company was purchased by J.A. Watkins and J.E. Cooper, owners of Watkins-Cooper Funeral Home, and in 1968, the business moved from 301 Virginia Avenue to its current location at 601 Virginia Avenue; and

WHEREAS, Larry Kindley, Jr., who had also worked at Watkins-Cooper Funeral Home, began working for Clarksville Furniture Company in 1981; by the late 1980s, he had become the majority shareholder and had expanded the business by starting to offer flooring, tiling, lighting, and home decor; and

WHEREAS, Larry Kindley cultivated strong relationships with expert subcontractors and focused on building customer loyalty through his commitment to excellence; he worked closely with other longtime employees, such as Tony Vaughan, who continues to manage the flooring team, ensuring that every job is handled with the utmost care and professionalism; and

WHEREAS, after 41 years of outstanding leadership, Larry Kindley retired and sold Clarksville Furniture and Flooring to Joe and Michelle Mitchell, maintaining the business's long legacy of family ownership; and

WHEREAS, the Mitchell family has upheld Clarksville Furniture and Flooring's reputation as a trusted hometown business, offering high-end furniture from top brands and dozens of styles of residential and commercial flooring options, along with personalized service and expertise; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Clarksville Furniture and Flooring on the occasion of its 100th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Clarksville Furniture and Flooring as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the business's longstanding contributions to the Clarksville community.