Delegate Israel O’Quinn (R-Fifth District) recently received the 2014 Legislator of the Year award from the Virginia Retail Merchants Association.  He was recognized for his service in the General Assembly and his patronage and support of patent infringement protection legislation.  O’Quinn’s HB 375 passed the House of Delegates and State Senate after a great deal of work. 

Laurie Aldrich, President of the Virginia Retail Merchants Association, stated: “Virginia Retail Merchants Association’s Legislator of the Year earned this award by diligently working to get patent infringement protections passed for Virginia’s businesses. Delegate O’Quinn took ownership of this legislation and showed a level of commitment not frequently seen. We are grateful for his leadership in seeing this important legislation through its difficulties to passage.”Delegate O’Quinn is employed as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Food City.  “Delegate O’Quinn understands that businesses across the Commonwealth are the true job creators; and as a legislator, he has worked hard to make sure Virginia is at, or near the top in best states to do business in.  We are proud to have him as part of our Food City team,” says Steven C. Smith, Food City President and Chief Executive Officer.

Delegate O’Quinn expressed his appreciation for the recognition, “As a citizen legislator I have worked in the retail supermarket industry for nearly eight years.  I understand what it's like to operate on a razor-thin profit margin where every penny truly counts.  I've brought that private sector experience to this position and I’m honored to receive this award from VRMA.”

Delegate Israel O'Quinn serves as Deputy Majority Whip in the Virginia House of Delegates and represents the Fifth House District, which is comprised of the Cities of Bristol and Galax, Grayson County and parts of Smyth and Washington Counties.  For more information, visit the website at www.israeloquinn.com, www.facebook.com/israeloquinn and www.twitter.com/israeloquinn.

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores operates 106 retail food outlets throughout the tri-state regions of Southeast Kentucky, Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.